The journal Neoplasia has announced that a study published by a Wayne State University School of Medicine researcher is one of the most-cited articles in the publication for the latest impact favor year.

"Galectin-3 Inhibits Osteoblast Differentiation through Notch Signaling," an article published in November 2014 by Avraham Raz, Ph.D., the Paul Zuckerman Professor of Oncology and of Pathology for the School of Medicine and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, and his co-authors, earned the distinction.

"Contributions like yours help keep the quality of the journal consistently high," said Neoplasia editor-in-chief Alnawaz Rehemtulla, Ph.D. "You have directly helped our impact factor, which just increased to 5.006."

The paper documented research to better understand secondary tumor growth in the bone, particularly in malignant prostate and breast cancers. The metastasis affects the bone microenvironment, leading to bone remodeling. Research findings showed that soluble galectin-3 in the bone microenvironment niche regulates bone remodeling through Notch signaling, suggesting a novel bone metastasis therapeutic target.

Dr. Raz's co-authors include Kosei Nakajima, Dhong Hyo Kho, Yosuke Harazono, Xiaoge Gao, and Victor Hogan from the departments of Oncology and of Pathology; and Takashi Yanagawa, M.D., Ph.D., from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University in Japan.

Neoplasia publishes the results of novel investigations in all areas of oncology research. The title Neoplasia was chosen to convey the journal's breadth, which encompasses the traditional disciplines of cancer research as well as emerging fields and interdisciplinary investigations.