SPARC and SPARC cluster genes in tumourigenesis.

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Expression profiling of many cancers has revealed a common signature, including upregulation of SPARC and other extracellular matrix proteins (the SPARC cluster), which correlates with poor prognosis. This signature is similar to the wound healing gene expression profile after infection by the parasite, Leishmania. Moreover, genomic regions important for differences in the wound healing response in mice have been defined that may define novel genes important for regulating SPARC cluster gene expression. However, these regions contain 1000s of genes , and thus to define the critical genes other approaches are neccesary. The genetically manipulable animal model, Drosophila (vinegar fly), represents a ideal system to detect SPARC interacting genes that should help define the critical genes that regulate SPARC cluster genes. These regulators that trigger SPARC cluster gene expression are likely to define novel cancer causing genes.