Proteomics identifies EGF-like domain multiple 7 as a potential therapeutic target for epidermal growth factor receptor-positive glioma.

Background: Glioma, the most frequent primary tumor of the central nervous system, has poor prognosis. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway and angiogenesis play important roles in glioma growth, invasion, and recurrence. The present study aimed to use proteomic methods to probe into the role of the EGF-EGFR-angiogenesis axis in the tumorigenesis of glioma and access the therapeutic efficacy of selumetinib on glioma.

EGFL7 is an intercellular EGFR signal messenger that plays an oncogenic role in glioma.

Epidermal Growth Factor like domain 7 (EGFL7), also known as Vascular Endothelial-statin (VE-statin), is a secreted angiogenic factor. Recent data have demonstrated the potential oncogenic role and prognostic significance of EGFL7 in several human cancers. However, the clinical signature and further mechanisms of EGFL7's function in gliomagenesis are poorly understood.