SPP1 and colorectal cancer: Liu et al. (2014) reported the raf kinase inhibitor protein can inhibit the survival and invasion of gastric cancer cells and promote apoptosis through regulating the expression of HMGA2 and Osteopontin. The findings of Chau et al. (2003) suggested that HMGA2 could become a therapeutic target by blocking HMGA2 protein expression in retinoblastoma cells or through inhibiting expression of the HMGA2 gene by targeting its promoters. Wang et al. (2011) found radiotherapy significantly reduced the relative risk death in HMGA2-positive colorectal cancers (CRCs), but not in HMGA2-negative CRCs.