Correlation Between Midkine and Malignant Tumors

Midkine(MK),a member of heparin-binding growth factor,influences the proliferation,differentiation and apoptosis by promoting the mitogenesis,angiogenesis,inducing oncogenic transformation and resisting apoptosis.As it is overexpressed in various malignant tumors,and serum midkine level is positively correlated with poor prognosis of cancer,midkine may serve as a useful marker in clinical practice.With the development of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide technology,RNA interference and specific promotor-based gene therapy,midkine may become a new target of gene therapy for cancer.