S100A4 in esophageal cancer: is this the one to blame?

Metastasis is the main reason for cancer-related death. S100A4 is one of the key molecules involved in this event. Several studies have shown that overexpression of S100A4 in non-metastatic cancer cells can make them become metastatic, and knockdown of S100A4 in metastatic cancer cells can curtail their invasive nature. A study by Chen et al([2]) published in the World J Gastroenterol 18(9): 915-922, 2012 is a typical example. This study showed in vitro and in vivo evidence that S100A4 expression level determines the invasiveness of esophageal squamous carcinoma. Considering the fact that more than half of the cancer-related deaths are caused by malignancies derived from the digestive system and esophageal cancer is the 4th top contributor to this fraction, this study warrants more attention.