Endostatin

• OMIM: 120328
• UniProt: P39060

As endostatin a cleavage product ( molecular mass 20 kDa) is called of collagen XVIII, the first time in 1997 by O'Reilly et al. was isolated as a product of hemangioendothelioma cells. Mutations in the gene coding for endostatin portion of the COL18A1 gene are associated with increased risk for prostate cancer.

Effect

Endostatin is a direct endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor, was able to stop the in vitro proliferation and migration of endothelial cells and in vivo the growth of Lewis lung cancer xenograft tumors in mice. Great therapeutic hopes are placed in the protein. The exact mechanism of action (for example, the corresponding receptors ) are currently studied intensively.

In Phase I clinical studies, no adverse effects were observed, nor was a resistance - training. However, the treatment success remained below expectations. Conflicting results also offered various new approaches of experimental therapy, such as Gene therapy.

Perspectives

Recent Publications ( Kalluri, Molecular Cell, 2004) illuminate the interior of the network of endostatin action. It is becoming apparent that the therapeutic success crucially on the correct dosage and - depending on the tumor entity - as with many other cancer therapies.