Bache et al. BMC Cancer 2010, 10:132 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/10/132 Authors’ contributions MB and DV designed the study, collected data, performed statistical analysis and drafted the manuscript. MKa, HW, SR, AH, TG, HMS and MKo and HT made substantial contributions acquisition of data, and analysis and interpretation of data. PW treated the patients, collected material and data and reviewed the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Received: 13 October 2009 Accepted: 8 April 2010 Published: 8 April 2010 References 1. Furger KA, Menon RK, Tuck AB, Bramwell VH, Chambers AF: The functional and clinical roles of osteopontin in cancer and metastasis. Curr Mol Med 2001, 1:621-632. 2. Bache M, Kappler M, Said HM, Staab A, Vordermark D: Detection and specific targeting of hypoxic regions within solid tumors: current preclinical and clinical strategies. 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