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Progranulin and its biological effects in cancer

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Abstract

Cancer cells have defects in regulatory mechanisms that usually control cell proliferation and homeostasis. Different cancer cells share crucial alterations in cell physiology, which lead to malignant growth. Tumorigenesis or tumor growth requires a series of events that include constant cell proliferation, promotion of metastasis and invasion, stimulation of angiogenesis, evasion of tumor suppressor factors, and avoidance of cell death pathways. All these events in tumor progression may be regulated by growth factors produced by normal or malignant cells. The growth factor progranulin has significant biological effects in different types of cancer. This protein is a regulator of tumorigenesis because it stimulates cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, malignant transformation, resistance to anticancer drugs, and immune evasion. This review focuses on the biological effects of progranulin in several cancer models and provides evidence that this growth factor should be considered as a potential biomarker and target in cancer treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Unit in Reproductive Medicine, UMAE Hospital de Gineco Obstetricia No. 4 “Luis Castelazo Ayala”, IMSS, Av. Rio Magdalena No. 289, Sexto piso. Tizapan, San Angel, CP 01090, Mexico City, Mexico

    Fabian Arechavaleta-Velasco, Carlos Eduardo Perez-Juarez & Laura Diaz-Cueto

  2. Center for Research on Reproduction and Women’s Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    George L. Gerton

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  1. Fabian Arechavaleta-Velasco
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  4. Laura Diaz-Cueto
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Correspondence to Laura Diaz-Cueto.

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Arechavaleta-Velasco, F., Perez-Juarez, C.E., Gerton, G.L. et al. Progranulin and its biological effects in cancer. Med Oncol 34, 194 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-017-1054-7

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