Cathepsin D in cancer metastasis: A protease and a ligand

Cathepsin D (cath‐D) overexpression in breast cancer cells is associated with increased risk of metastasis in patients according to several clinical studies. No alterations of pro‐cath‐D structure or activation have been demonstrated in cancer cells. However, overexpression and dysrouting of pro‐cat...

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Published in:APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica et immunologica Scandinavica microbiologica et immunologica Scandinavica, 1999-03, Vol.107 (1-6), p.86-95
Main Authors: ROCHEFORT, HENRI, LIAUDET-COOPMAN, EMMANUELLE
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
breast cancer
cathepsin D
Cathepsin D - chemistry
Cathepsin D - physiology
Enzyme Activation
extracellular matrix
FGF2
Glycosylation
growth factor
growth inhibitor
Humans
Metastasis
Mice
Neoplasm Metastasis
Neoplasms - enzymology
phagocytosis
proteases
Rats
Receptor, IGF Type 2 - physiology
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Summary:Cathepsin D (cath‐D) overexpression in breast cancer cells is associated with increased risk of metastasis in patients according to several clinical studies. No alterations of pro‐cath‐D structure or activation have been demonstrated in cancer cells. However, overexpression and dysrouting of pro‐cath‐D in illegitimate compartments could have consequences on tumor progression. Transfection of a human cDNA cath‐D expression vector increases the metastatic potential of 3Y1‐Ad12 embryonic rat tumorigenic cells when intravenously injected into nude mice. The mechanism by which cath‐D increases the incidence of clinical metastasis seems to involve increased cell growth and decreased contact inhibition rather than escape of cancer cells through the basement membrane. Different mechanisms are discussed by which cath‐D could act as a protease following its activation or as a ligand of different membrane receptors at a more neutral pH.
ISSN:0903-4641
1600-0463
DOI:10.1111/j.1699-0463.1999.tb01530.x