SPARC and central nervous system cancer: SPARC was reported to be overexpressed in a variety of human malignancies, including melanoma, glioma, meningioma, colorectal, breast, oesophageal, renal cell, prostate, bladder and hepatocellular carcinoma (Porte et al, 1995; Le Bail et al, 1999; Massi et al, 1999; Menon et al, 2000; Takano et al, 2000; Thomas et al, 2000; Sakai et al, 2001; Yamanaka et al, 2001; Iacobuzio-Donahue et al, 2002; Yamashita et al, 2003).