Abstract
Cancer progression is also invariably accompanied by the reexpression of fetal isoforms of various structural and regulatory proteins not normally present in healthy adult tissues. Recent technological advances have fueled an explosion in our detailed understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms controlling this process. Different models involving both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms have been proposed to account for the observed “oncofetal” pattern of gene expression. Migration stimulating factor (MSF) is an oncofetal regulatory molecule constitutively expressed by epithelial and stromal cells during fetal development. This chapter reviews MSF in terms of its molecular characterization and spectrum of bioactivities, including the role of hyaluronan (HA) in mediating the motogenic response of certain target cells and the oncofetal pattern of its local and systemic expression. It also discusses the tissue level control of target cell response to MSF and the postulated epigenetic control of MSF expression within the context of an “extended” oncofetal model of cancer inception and progression. Finally, the chapter concludes with a brief discussion of the potential clinical implications of these concepts for improving the management of patients with cancer.
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