Cancer is a complex, multi-factorial, multi-stage disease and a global threat to human health. Early detection of nature and stage of
cancer is highly crucial for disease management. Recent studies have proved beyond any doubt about the involvement of the ubiquitous, myriad
ligand binding, multi-functional human
protein,
hyaluronan-binding protein 1 (HABP1), which is identical to the
splicing factor associated
protein (p32) and the receptor of the globular head of the
complement component (gC1qR) in
tumorigenesis and
cancer metastasis. Simultaneously three laboratories have discovered and named this
protein separately as mentioned. Subsequently, different scientists have worked on the distinct functions in cellular processes ranging from immunological response, splicing mechanism, sperm-oocyte interactions, cell cycle regulation to
cancer and have concentrated in their respective area of interest, referring it as either p32 or gC1qR or HABP1. HABP1 overexpression has been reported in almost all the tissue-specific forms of
cancer and correlated with stage and poor prognosis in patients. In order to tackle this deadly disease and for therapeutic intervention, it is imperative to focus on all the regulatory aspects of this
protein. Hence, this work is an attempt to combine an assortment of information on this
protein to have an overview, which suggests its use as a diagnostic marker for
cancer. The knowledge might assist in the designing of drugs for therapeutic intervention of HABP1/p32/gC1qR regulated specific
ligand mediated pathways in
cancer.