However, recent evidence suggests that alterations in SPARC expression are common in various human malignancies, including melanoma (Ledda et al, 1997b), glioma (Schultz et al, 2002), invasive meningioma (Rempel et al, 1999), hepatocellular carcinoma (Le Bail et al, 1999), colon (Porte et al, 1995), breast (Gilles et al, 1998), and prostate (Thomas et al, 2000) cancers. The gene discussed is SPARC; the disease is cancer.