title: Targeting the embryonic gene Cripto-1 in cancer and beyond.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emerging evidence has clearly implicated an inappropriate activation of embryonic regulatory genes during cell transformation in adult tissues. An example of such a case is the embryonic gene Cripto-1. Cripto-1 is critical for embryonic development and is considered a marker of undifferentiated embryonic stem cells. Critpo-1 is expressed at low levels in adult tissues, but is re-expressed at a high frequency in a number of different types of human carcinomas, therefore, representing an attractive therapeutic target in cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review surveys different approaches that have been used to target Cripto-1 in cancer as reflected by the relevant patent literature as well as peer-reviewed publications. Potential involvement and targeting of Cripto-1 in neurodegenerative and degenerative muscle diseases are also discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reader will gain an overview of different mAbs, vaccines or oligonucleotides antisense targeting Cripto-1. A humanized anti-Cripto-1 antibody is currently being tested in a Phase I clinical trial in cancer patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Targeting Cripto-1 in human tumors has the potential to eliminate not only differentiated cancer cells but also destroy an undifferentiated subpopulation of cancer cells with stem-like characteristics that support tumor initiation and self-renewal.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Mammary Biology & Tumorigenesis Laboratory, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. Biancoc@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Salomon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000276:immunology*; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology; D010330:Patents as Topic
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; C070636:TDGF1 protein, human; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor