title: Targeting tumor invasion: the roles of MDA-9/Syntenin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Melanoma differentiation-associated gene - 9 (MDA-9)/Syntenin has become an increasingly popular focus for investigation in numerous cancertypes. Originally implicated in melanoma metastasis, it has diverse cellular roles and is consistently identified as a regulator of tumor invasion and angiogenesis. As a potential target for inhibiting some of the most lethal aspects of cancer progression, further insight into the function of MDA-9/Syntenin is mandatory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recent literature and seminal articles were reviewed to summarize the latest collective understanding of MDA-9/Syntenin's role in normal and cancerous settings. Insights into its participation in developmental processes are included, as is the functional significance of the N- and C-terminals and PDZ domains of MDA-9/Syntenin. Current reports highlight the clinical significance of MDA-9/Syntenin expression level in a variety of cancers, often correlating directly with reduced patient survival. Also presented are assessments of roles of MDA-9/Syntenin in cancer progression as well as its functions as an intracellular adapter molecule.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multiple studies demonstrate the importance of MDA-9/Syntenin in tumor invasion and progression. Through the use of novel drug design approaches, this protein may provide a worthwhile therapeutic target. As many conventional therapies do not address, or even enhance, tumor invasion, an anti-invasive approach would be a worthwhile addition in cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Department of Human and Molecular Genetics , Richmond, VA , USA.
authors.forename: Timothy P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Kegelman
authors.forename: Swadesh K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Luni
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Emdad
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Mitchell E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.forename: Praveen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhoopathi
authors.forename: Xiang-Yang
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pellecchia
authors.forename: Devanand
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism; D053676:Syntenins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C109621:SDCBP protein, human; D053676:Syntenins
keywords: EGFR; PDZ; angiogenesis; breast cancer; c-Src; exosomes; glioblastoma; glioma; integrin; invasion; melanoma; melanoma differentiation-associated gene – 9; metastasis; small cell lung carcinoma; syndecan binding protein; syntenin; urothelial cell carcinoma; uveal melanoma