Abstract.
The synthesis of acute-phase protein serum amyloid A (SAA) is largely regulated by inflammation- associated cytokines and a high concentration of circulating SAA may represent an ideal marker for acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. However, SAA is also synthesized in extrahepatic tissues, e.g. human carcinoma metastases and cancer cell lines. An increasing body of in vitro data supports the concept of involvement of SAA in carcinogenesis and neoplastic diseases. Accumulating evidence suggests that SAA might be included in a group of biomarkers to detect a pattern of physiological events that reflect the growth of malignancy and host response. This review is meant to provide a broad overview of the many ways that SAA could contribute to tumour development, and accelerate tumour progression and metastasis, and to gain a better understanding of this acute-phase reactant as a possible link between chronic inflammation and neoplasia.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Received 11 June 2008; received after revision 10 July 2008; accepted 28 July 2008
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Malle, E., Sodin-Semrl, S. & Kovacevic, A. Serum amyloid A: An acute-phase protein involved in tumour pathogenesis. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 66, 9 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-008-8321-x
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-008-8321-x