AUTHOR=Zhang He , Shen Yi-Wen , Zhang Li-Jun , Chen Jin-Jiao , Bian Hui-Ting , Gu Wen-Jie , Zhang Hong , Chen Hong-Zhuan , Zhang Wei-Dong , Luan Xin TITLE=Targeting Endothelial Cell-Specific Molecule 1 Protein in Cancer: A Promising Therapeutic Approach JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology VOLUME=11 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.687120 DOI=10.3389/fonc.2021.687120 ISSN=2234-943X ABSTRACT=

Despite the dramatic advances in cancer research in the past few years, effective therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM-1), a soluble dermatan sulfate proteoglycan, also known as endocan, serves as a diagnostic and prognostic indicator due to its aberrant expression under pathological conditions, including cancer, sepsis, kidney diseases, and cardiovascular disease. Significantly, ESM-1 can promote cancer progression and metastasis through the regulation of tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and drug resistant. In addition, ESM-1 is involved in the tumor microenvironment, containing inflammation, angiogenesis, and lymph angiogenesis. This article reviews the molecular and biological characteristics of ESM-1 in cancer, the underlying mechanisms, the currently clinical and pre-clinical applications, and potential therapeutic strategies. Herein, we propose that ESM-1 is a new therapeutic target for cancer therapy.