[The role of SPARC gene in tumorigenic capacity of human melanoma cells]. / Rol del gen SPARC en la capacidad tumorigénica de células de melanoma humano.

Previous studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that human melanoma cell lines and tumors expressed high levels of the extracellular protein SPARC. In order to demonstrate its role in human melanoma progression, IIB-MEL-LES human melanoma cells were transfected with SPARC full length c-DNA in the antisense orientation. In vivo studies demonstrated that all the control mice injected with parental cells developed tumors, while none of the mice injected with cells obtained from three different clones with diminished levels of SPARC expression, developed tumors. These studies suggest that SPARC may play a key role in human melanoma progression.