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:  
 
Please include all comments for the authors in this box rather  than uploading your report as an 
attachment. Please only upload as attachments annotated versions of manuscripts, graphs, 
supporting materials or other aspects of your report which cannot be included in a text format.  
Please overwrite this text when addin g your comments to the authors.  
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  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary fr om an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication o f this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has app lied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal . I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses.  I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do  not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
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:  
 
Please include all comments for the authors in this box rather  than uploading your report as an 
attachment. Please only upload as attachments annotated versions of manuscripts, graphs, 
supporting materials or other aspects of your report which cannot be included in a text format.  
Please overwrite this text when addin g your comments to the authors.  
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  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary fr om an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication o f this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has app lied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal . I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses.  I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do  not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Please review this paper.
user
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:  
 
Please include all comments for the authors in this box rather  than uploading your report as an 
attachment. Please only upload as attachments annotated versions of manuscripts, graphs, 
supporting materials or other aspects of your report which cannot be included in a text format.  
Please overwrite this text when addin g your comments to the authors.  
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  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary fr om an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication o f this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has app lied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal . I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses.  I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do  not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
assistant