Caveolin-1 in sarcomas: friend or foe?

Oncotarget. 2011 Apr;2(4):305-12. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.255.

Abstract

Sarcomas represent a heterogeneous group of tumors with a complex and difficult reproducible classification. Their pathogenesis is poorly understood and there are few effective treatment options for advanced disease. Caveolin-1 is a multifunctional scaffolding protein with multiple binding partners that regulates multiple cancer-associated processes including cellular transformation, tumor growth, cell death and survival, multidrug resistance, angiogenesis, cell migration and metastasis. However, ambiguous roles have been ascribed to caveolin-1 in signal transduction and cancer, including sarcomas. In particular, evidence indicating that caveolin-1 function is cell context dependent has been repeatedly reported. Caveolin-1 appears to act as a tumor suppressor protein at early stages of cancer progression. In contrast, a growing body of evidence indicates that caveolin-1 is up-regulated in several multidrug-resistant and metastatic cancer cell lines and human tumor specimens. This review is focused on the role of caveolin-1 in several soft tissue and bone sarcomas and discusses the use of this protein as a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker and as a therapeutic target.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / physiology
  • Bone Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Bone Neoplasms / etiology
  • Bone Neoplasms / genetics
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology
  • Caveolin 1 / genetics
  • Caveolin 1 / metabolism
  • Caveolin 1 / physiology*
  • Disease Progression
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Sarcoma / diagnosis*
  • Sarcoma / etiology*
  • Sarcoma / genetics
  • Sarcoma / pathology
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / etiology
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / genetics
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Caveolin 1