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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 21, 2014; 20(7): 1694-1700
Published online Feb 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i7.1694
Cyr61/CTGF/Nov family proteins in gastric carcinogenesis
Tsu-Yao Cheng, Ming-Shiang Wu, Kuo-Tai Hua, Min-Liang Kuo, Ming-Tsan Lin
Tsu-Yao Cheng, Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
Tsu-Yao Cheng, Ming-Shiang Wu, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
Kuo-Tai Hua, Min-Liang Kuo, Graduate Institute of Toxicology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
Ming-Tsan Lin, Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
Author contributions: All authors contributed to the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Ming-Tsan Lin, MD, PhD, Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7 ChungShan South Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan. linmt@ntu.edu.tw
Telephone: +886-2-23123456 Fax: +886-2-23410217
Received: October 29, 2013
Revised: December 7, 2013
Accepted: January 3, 2014
Published online: February 21, 2014
Processing time: 134 Days and 11.4 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Cyr61/CTGF/Nov (CCN) proteins are matricellular proteins responsible for many physiological and pathological processes, including carcinogenesis. The prototypical CCN family protein is composed of an N-terminal secretory signal peptide and four structural modules. Several truncated variants participate in the carcinogenesis of gastrointestinal tract cancers. The role of CCNs in carcinogenesis is tumor-type and context-dependent. The evidence suggests that CCN family proteins play important roles in gastric cancer (GC) carcinogenic processes. Recent CCN targeting agents, including monoclonal antibodies, antisense oligonucleotides and RNA interference compounds, may be helpful in future GC therapeutics.