Successful Inhibition of Tumor Development by Specific Class-3 Semaphorins Is Associated with Expression of Appropriate Semaphorin Receptors by Tumor Cells
2008

Inhibition of Tumor Development by Class-3 Semaphorins

Sample size: 9 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Kigel Boaz, Varshavsky Asya, Kessler Ofra, Neufeld Gera

Primary Institution: Cancer Research and Vascular Biology Center, The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

Hypothesis

Do additional class-3 semaphorins possess anti-angiogenic and anti-tumorigenic properties?

Conclusion

Class-3 semaphorins can inhibit tumor development and angiogenesis, but their effectiveness is correlated with the expression of specific receptors on tumor cells.

Supporting Evidence

  • Sema3A, Sema3D, Sema3E, and Sema3G were shown to have anti-tumorigenic properties.
  • Expression of semaphorins correlated with reduced tumor-associated blood vessel density.
  • Different semaphorins had varying effects on tumor growth depending on the tumor cell type.

Takeaway

Certain proteins called semaphorins can help stop tumors from growing by blocking blood vessel formation, but they work best when the tumor cells have the right receptors for them.

Methodology

The study involved expressing recombinant semaphorins in various tumor cell lines and assessing their effects on tumor growth and angiogenesis in vivo.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to the lack of specific antibodies for all semaphorin receptors.

Limitations

The study did not systematically test all potential modulating influences on semaphorin signaling.

Participant Demographics

The study used various human breast cancer cell lines.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0003287

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