Osteopontin as potential biomarker and therapeutic target in gastric and liver cancers

Figure 2 Molecular mechanisms of osteopontin in gastrointestinal cancers. Osteopontin (OPN) signaling leads to gastrointestinal cancer growth and metastasis through activation of various pathways, including cell survival and proliferation, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. VEGF: Vascular endothelial growth factor; PI3-K: Phosphoinositide 3-kinase; COX-2: Cyclooxygenase-2; MAPK: Mitogen-activated protein kinase; NF: Nuclear factor; uPA: Urokinase-type plasminogen activator; MMP: Matrix metalloproteinase; ERM: Ezrin/radixin/moesin; Akt: Protein kinase B.