Maspin

Maspin (Mammary Serine Protease Inhibitor) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SERPINB5 gene. It is a member of the serpin family of serine protease inhibitors. Maspin plays a crucial role in inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis in certain types of cancer, including breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Function

Maspin is a non-inhibitory serpin that acts as a tumor suppressor. It is found in normal epithelial cells and has been reported to be downregulated in a number of cancers. Maspin can inhibit cell migration and invasion, induce apoptosis, and disrupt angiogenesis. The exact mechanism of how maspin exerts its effects is still under investigation.

Clinical significance

The role of maspin in cancer has been widely studied. It has been found that maspin expression is often lost or reduced in cancerous cells compared to normal cells. This loss of expression is associated with a more aggressive tumor phenotype and poorer prognosis in several types of cancer, including breast and prostate cancer. Therefore, maspin is considered a potential therapeutic target in cancer treatment.

See also

• SERPIN
• Tumor suppressor
• Breast cancer
• Prostate cancer

References

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External links

• SERPINB5 at the National Center for Biotechnology Information