Op18 (for oncoprotein 18, also designated stathmin, prosolin or metablastin) is
a conserved, tubulin-associated, intracellular phosphoprotein. Many different
phosphorylated forms of Op18 are observed, and it is expressed as two different
isoforms. Op18 is considered a critical regulator of microtubulin dynamics
and is downregulated by p53. It serves as a transducing protein, via phosphorylation,
for a variety of cell signaling pathways and is involved in both mitosis
and differentiation. Op18 is present in many cancers, including breast carcinomas,
and is highly expressed in acute leukemias of different subtypes.