Review for 10.1186/s12876-018-0833-8 (2018)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine -Like 1 Suppresses Metastasis in Gastric 
Stromal Tumors  
 
Version: 1 Date: 12 May 2018  
 
Reviewer: Xiaoyun Zeng  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
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In the manuscript by Shen C, et al, the authors aimed to explore the expression pattern and 
clinicopathological significance of SPARCL1 in Chinese gastric GIST cohort and to investigate 
whether the downregulation of SPARCL1 in GIST cell -line facilitates cell invasion, migration 
and liver metastasis. This is an interesting study that may provide new insights into biological 
mechanisms of GIST malignancy. However, there are some concerns that need to be clarified.  
1. The full n ame of SPARCL1 in the title should be "Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in 
Cysteine -Like 1", or SPARC -like 1 for the sake of simplification. Moreover, the authors had 
better modify the title of article due to most of articles describe SPARCL1 influence GIS T 
cell metastasis in vivo and in vitro.  
 
2. As the chip analysis results showed that there were 41 proteins up -regulated, while 23 
proteins were down -regulated in tumors with high -grade malignancy when compare with that 
of low -grade malignancy, thus how did  you choose SPARCL1 as the research object?  
 
3. In the subtitle "Transfecting Cells with shRNA for Knocking out SPARCL1" and its 
contents, "knocking out" should be "knocking down".  
 
4. GIST is an abbreviation for gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Thus, "GIST t umor(s)" is 
incorrect that is repeatedly shown throughout the manuscript.  
 
5. In order to better simulate the process of metastasis of tumors, orthotropic transplantation is 
the commonly accepted method at present. Why did not you use this method in this ar ticle?  
  
Are the  methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some l anguage corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
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holds  or has app lied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
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