Inhibition of osteopontin dependent carcinogenesis.

Osteopontin is a molecule that promotes cellular proliferation as well as metastasis and plays a major role in the evolution of most systemic malignancies. Inhibition of carcinogenetic mechanisms that involve osteopontin will undoubtedly go a long way in controlling the growth of these tumors. A number of new molecules such as argatroban agelastatin A and selenium have been identified in this regard. For instance, Schulze et al. (in Breast Cancer Res Treat) have recently reported the successful utilization of argatroban for decreasing the growth of breast cancer tumor cells as well as their lymphatic metastasis. Similarly, anti osteopontin antibodies and antisense osteopontin RNA have been successfully used to inhibit tumor growth in prostate carcinomas and osteosarcomas, respectively. There is a clear and urgent need to expand the use of these molecules as well as to further identify other potent inhibitors of osteopontin mediated tumorigenesis.