title: Cripto-1: an embryonic gene that promotes tumorigenesis.
abstract: Several studies have shown that cell fate regulation during embryonic development and oncogenic transformation share common regulatory mechanisms and signaling pathways. Indeed, an embryonic gene member of the EGF-Cripto-1/FRL1/Cryptic family, Cripto-1, has been implicated in embryogenesis and in carcinogenesis. Cripto-1 together with the TGF-beta ligand Nodal is a key regulator of embryonic development and is a marker of undifferentiated human and mouse embryonic stem cells. While Cripto-1 expression is very low in normal adult tissues, Cripto-1 is re-expressed at high levels in several different human tumors, modulating cancer cell proliferation, migration, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and stimulating tumor angiogenesis. Therefore, inhibition of Cripto-1 expression using blocking antibodies or antisense expression vectors might be a useful modality not only to target fully differentiated cancer cells but also to target a subpopulation of tumor cells with stem-like characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Mammary Biology & Tumorigenesis Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Dr., Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Nadia Pereira
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: de Castro
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rangel
authors.forename: Tadahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagaoka
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Salomon
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bianco
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000254:growth & development; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C491268:CFC1 protein, human; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C489450:Tdgf1 protein, mouse; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor