title: Thrombospondin-1 in urological cancer: pathological role, clinical significance, and therapeutic prospects.
abstract: Angiogenesis is an important process for tumor growth and progression of various solid tumors including urological cancers. Thrombospondins (TSPs), especially TSP-1, are representative "anti"-angiogenic molecules and many studies have clarified their pathological role and clinical significance in vivo and in vitro. In fact, TSP-1 expression is associated with clinicopathological features and prognosis in many types of cancers. However, TSP-1 is a multi-functional protein and its biological activities vary according to the specific tumor environments. Consequently, there is no general agreement on its cancer-related function in urological cancers, and detailed information regarding regulative mechanisms is essential for a better understanding of its therapeutic effects and prognostic values. Various "suppressor genes" and "oncogenes" are known to be regulators and TSP-1-related factors under physiological and pathological conditions. In addition, various types of fragments derived from TSP-1 exist in a given tissue microenvironment and TSP-1 derived-peptides have specific activities. However, a detailed pathological function in human cancer tissues is not still understood. This review will focus on the pathological roles and clinical significance of TSP-1 in urological cancers, including prostate cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and urothelial cancer. In addition, special attention is paid to TSP-1-derived peptide and TSP-1-based therapy for malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephro-Urology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan. int.doc.miya@m3.dion.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Yasuyoshi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyata
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019700:Thrombospondin 1 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014571:Urologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D019700:Thrombospondin 1