Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40668661›Full record

ArticleMelanoma research2025

Thrombospondin 2 drives liver metastasis in skin cutaneous melanoma via regulation of angiogenesis and extracellular matrix remodeling.

Li-Ping Zhang, Zhen-Guo Zhang, Jian Guan, Li-Qun Li

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Article in Melanoma research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Li-Ping ZhangDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Wenzhou Medical University Lishui Hospital, Lishui People' s Hospital, Lishui.
Zhen-Guo ZhangDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Wenzhou Medical University Lishui Hospital, Lishui People' s Hospital, Lishui.
Jian GuanDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Wenzhou Medical University Lishui Hospital, Lishui People' s Hospital, Lishui.
Li-Qun LiDepartment of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

To explore the functional role of thrombospondin 2 (THBS2) in the metastasis of skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM), with a focus on its regulation of angiogenesis and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. THBS2 expression was assessed in normal melanocytes and SKCM cell lines with varying metastatic potential. Functional analyses were conducted after THBS2 knockdown in A375 cells and overexpression in G-361 cells. Effects on migration, invasion, endothelial tube formation, and angiogenesis- and ECM-related factors were evaluated. Tumor IMmune Estimation Resource database was used for correlation analyses in SKCM samples. A liver metastasis model was established by intrasplenic injection of B16-F10 cells into Thbs2 knockout and wild-type mice, followed by quantification of hepatic metastases and molecular analysis of peritumoral liver tissue. THBS2 was highly expressed in invasive melanoma cell lines and was positively associated with VEGFA, PECAM1, and MMPs in both databases and experimental models. Knockdown of THBS2 significantly suppressed VEGFA, PECAM1, FGF2, FLT1, MMP2, MMP9, and ECM components (LAMA4, COL1A1, and COL4A1) at mRNA and protein levels, inhibited melanoma cell migration and invasion, and reduced tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Overexpression had opposite effects. In vivo , Thbs2 knockout mice exhibited significantly fewer hepatic metastases and reduced metastatic area compared with wild-type controls. Expression of Lama4, Pecam1, Vegfa, Mmp2, and Mmp9 was markedly lower in peritumoral liver tissue of knockout mice. THBS2 promotes SKCM metastasis by enhancing angiogenesis and ECM remodeling. Targeting THBS2 may represent a promising strategy for inhibiting melanoma progression and distant organ colonization.

Indexed as

Extracellular MatrixLiver NeoplasmsMelanomaNeovascularization, PathologicSkin NeoplasmsThrombospondinsAngiogenesisAnimalsFemaleHumansMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutThrombospondin 2Thrombospondin 2Thrombospondinsangiogenesisextracellular matrix remodelingliver metastasisskin cutaneous melanomaTHBS2

Identifiers

PMID40668661
PMCPMC12393067

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.