Sperm Protein Associated With The Nucleus, X-Linked Family, Member C (SPANXC)

SPANXC was expressed only in the metastatic cell line.The full-length SPANXC cDNA encodes a 97-amino acid protein, which the authors designated CTp11 (cancer/testis-associated protein of 11 kD), that is localized in the nucleus. Northern blot analysis of human tissues demonstrated that SPANXC is expressed in normal testis only. RT-PCR analysis on a large number of tumor cell lines demonstrated SPANXC expression in 25 to 30% of melanoma and bladder carcinoma cell lines. Expression was found sporadically in other tumor types, but was not found in any benign melanocytic tumors studied. Nested RT-PCR analysis showed that SPANXC expression is only detectable in advanced stages of melanocytic tumor progression, making this protein a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker for melanoma progression.