Pigment epithelium-derived factor: A multimodal tumor inhibitor

Abstract

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), a noninhibitory member of the serine protease inhibitor (serpin) family, is a well-known potent endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis. It has been known for years to be aberrantly expressed in ocular disorders, but in recent years, down-regulation has been shown to be prevalent in a range of cancers as well. This review describes the trimodal anticancer activities of this interesting protein: antiangiogenesis, apoptosis-mediated tumor suppression, and tumor cell differentiation. The key to successful antitumor therapy with this protein is the ability to synthesize the recombinant form of the protein (or its active shortened forms) and deliver at thera..