Nephroblastoma Overexpressed/Cysteine-Rich Protein 61/Connective Tissue Growth Factor/Nephroblastoma Overexpressed Gene-3 (NOV/CCN3), a Selective Adrenocortical Cell Proapoptotic Factor, Is Down-Regulated in Childhood Adrenocortical Tumors

Abstract

NOV is a selective proapoptotic factor for human adrenocortical cells. Reduced expression of NOV in ACTs may play an important role in the process of childhood ACT tumorigenesis, accounting at least in part for the defect of apoptotic regression of the fetal adrenal that has been proposed to be responsible for tumor formation.