Osteopontin: its potential role in cancer of children and young adults.
OBJECTIVE
Osteopontin (OPN) is aglyco-phosphoprotein, involved in tissue remodeling, inflammation and boneresorption. In various adult neoplasms OPN was shown to correlate with cancer progression, invasiveness and metastasis.


OBJECTIVE
to define the role of OPN in malignancies of children and young adults.


METHODS
a structured PubMed and Google Scholar literature analysis based on reports published in English between I'1995 and XII'2015.


RESULTS
14 studies (four on hematological malignancies, four on bone tumors, three on CNS tumors, two on dendritic proliferative diseases and one on renal tumors) were identified. Higher levels of serum and cerebro-spinal fluid OPN protein, and high expressions of OPN mRNA and SPP1 gene were present in more aggressive and advanced childhood malignancies. In children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia with CNS involvement and with atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) and medulloblastoma, the serum and CSF OPN levels reflected tumor bulk and response to therapy, while in children with AT/RT and multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis with high-risk organs involvement, high OPN serum levels correlated with poorer survival. To the contrary, in osteosarcoma, high OPN mRNA and SPP1 gene expressions correlated with better survival and good response to chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The literature review suggests that OPN may play important roles in the development and progression of selected cancers of children and young adults, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia, malignant gliomas, AT/RT and Langerhans cell histiocytosis. However, limited number of published studies prevents from definite concluding on the clinical utility of OPN as a marker of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment monitoring in these pediatric cancers. Further studies performed in more numerous groups of patients with particular types of cancers of children and young adults are warranted.
Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit Medical Center, 3901 Beaubien Street, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
Gabrielle
G
Karpinsky
Department of Pediatrics, Hematology & Oncology, University Clinic Center, 7 Debinki Street, 80-952 Gdansk, Poland.
Aleksandra
A
Fatyga
Department of Pediatrics, Hematology & Oncology, Medical University of Gdansk, 7 Debinki Street, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland.
Malgorzata Anna
MA
Krawczyk
The English Division Pediatric Oncology Scientific Circle, Medical University of Gdansk, 7 Debinki Street, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland.
Madeleine
M
Chamera
The English Division Pediatric Oncology Scientific Circle, Medical University of Gdansk, 7 Debinki Street, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland.
Natalia
N
Sande
Coronary Care Unit, Cardiology Department, West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, United Kingdom.
Dagmara
D
Szmyd
Department of Pathology & Neuropathology, Medical University of Gdansk, 1 Debinki Street, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland.
Ewa
E
Izycka-Swieszewska
Department of Pediatrics, Hematology & Oncology, Medical University of Gdansk, 7 Debinki Street, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland.
Ewa
E
Bien
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C506895:SPP1 protein, human; D053495:Osteopontin
Langerhans cell histiocytosis; SPP1 gene; brain tumors; childhood cancers; leukemia; lymphoma; osteopontin; osteosarcoma; prognostic marker; sialoprotein-1