CTHRC1 (collagen triple helix repeat containing 1) is a 243 amino acid secreted protein that localizes to the extracellular matrix and contains one collagen-like domain. Expressed as two alternatively spliced isoforms, the first of which is expressed in calcified atherosclerotic plaque and chondrocyte-like cells, CTHRC1 is thought to function as a negative regulator of collagen matrix deposition and may also play a role in the stabilization of ligand-receptor interactions in the Wnt pathway. CTHRC1 is widely present in a variety of cancers, including melanoma and breast carcinoma, and may participate in cancer cell migration and cancer tissue invasion and metastasis. The gene encoding CTHRC1 maps to human chromosome 8, which consists of nearly 146 million base pairs, houses more than 800 genes and is associated with a variety of diseases and malignancies.
