EMP3 as a candidate tumor suppressor gene for solid tumors.
BACKGROUND
Epithelial membrane protein 3 (EMP3), was recently reported to be a tumor suppressor gene for several solid tumors, and is drawing attention as a novel prognostic marker, since its expression level or hypermethylation of the promoter region is associated with clinical prognosis in neuroblastoma and esophageal cancer. However, some controversial data were also observed in gliomas and breast cancers, and there seems to be more than deletion/hypermethylation to its silencing mechanisms.


OBJECTIVE
To clarify the discrepancies in the biological behavior of EMP3 among the different organ-derived malignancies or histologies and validate the potential of EMP3 as a tumor suppressor for solid tumors.


METHODS
Literature dealing with EMP3 in the PubMed database was reviewed.


CONCLUSIONS
EMP3 is a novel tumor suppressor gene in some kinds of malignancies, but not all, at the step of cellular immortalization rather than carcinogenesis. It may become a potent prognostic marker and a therapeutic target in such tumors.
Fumoto
Shoichi
S
Hiroshima University, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine (RIRBM), Department of Translational Cancer Research, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
Tanimoto
Keiji
K
Hiyama
Eiso
E
Noguchi
Tsuyoshi
T
Nishiyama
Masahiko
M
Hiyama
Keiko
K
D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C485157:EMP3 protein, human; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins