This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Khalkhali-Ellis, Z. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Khalkhali-Ellis, Z.

Maspin: The New Frontier

Author's Affiliation: Children's Memorial Research Center, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois

Requests for reprints: Zhila Khalkhali-Ellis, Children's Memorial Research Center, 2300 Children's Plaza, Box 222, Chicago, IL 60614-3394. Phone: 773-755-6353; Fax: 773-755-6594; E-mail: zellis{at}childrensmemorial.org.

Maspin (mammary serine protease inhibitor) was identified in 1994 by subtractive hybridization analysis of normal mammary tissue and breast cancer cell lines. Subsequently, emerging evidence portrays maspin as a multifaceted protein, interacting with diverse group of intercellular and extracellular proteins, regulating cell adhesion, motility, apoptosis, and angiogenesis and critically involved in mammary gland development. The tissue-specific expression of maspin is epigenetically controlled, and aberrant methylation of maspin promoter is closely associated with maspin gene silencing. Identification of new tissue sites expressing maspin and novel maspin-binding partners has expanded the horizon for maspin research and promises maspin-based therapeutic approaches for combating cancer. This perspective briefly outlines the past and present strides in deciphering this unique molecule and speculates on new frontiers in maspin research and prospects of maspin as a diagnostic/prognostic indicator in cancer.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Al-Ayyoubi, B. S. Schwartz, and P. G. W. Gettins Maspin Binds to Urokinase-type and Tissue-type Plasminogen Activator through Exosite-Exosite Interactions J. Biol. Chem., July 6, 2007; 282(27): 19502 - 19509. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. Khalkhali-Ellis and M. J.C. Hendrix Elucidating the Function of Secreted Maspin: Inhibiting Cathepsin D-Mediated Matrix Degradation Cancer Res., April 15, 2007; 67(8): 3535 - 3539. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]