Abstract
Biomarkers have been the focus of investigations to diagnose disease, track response to therapy and predict prognosis. Meanwhile, the identification of new targets for therapeutic intervention is an ongoing quest in the field of oncology. The recognition of endosialin as an antigen that is selectively overexpressed in human tumor tissues offers new strategies for treating cancer. Not only do the tumor vasculature and stromal compartments upregulate endosialin but, importantly, the malignant cells of sarcomas strongly express endosialin as well. A diagnostic assay that measures the intensity of endosialin expression in malignant tissues would assist in selecting patients that could benefit from an antiendosialin therapy. Thus, endosialin holds potential value both as a therapeutic target and as a biomarker for certain human cancers.
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank Beverly Teicher and Cecile Rouleau for editorial review and scientific contributions to endosialin research, Kirin Pharma Ltd, Co., Japan, for collaborative interactions and Craig Jones for proofreading.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The author is a full-time employee and shareholder of Genzyme Corporation. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.