Unraveling the role of proteases in cancer

Investigators have been studying the expression and activity of proteases in the final steps of tumor progression, invasion and metastasis, for the past 30 years. Recent studies, however, indicate that proteases are involved earlier in progression, e.g., in tumor growth both at the primary and metas...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinica chimica acta 2000-02, Vol.291 (2), p.113-135
Main Authors: Koblinski, Jennifer E, Ahram, Mamoun, Sloane, Bonnie F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Cancer
Cathepsin B
Dissemination
Endopeptidases - metabolism
Extracellular Matrix - metabolism
Humans
Hydrolysis
Medical sciences
Neoplasms - enzymology
Neoplasms - pathology
Precancerous Conditions - enzymology
Proteases
Tumor cell
Tumor invasion
Tumor progression
Tumor-stromal interactions
Tumors
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Summary:Investigators have been studying the expression and activity of proteases in the final steps of tumor progression, invasion and metastasis, for the past 30 years. Recent studies, however, indicate that proteases are involved earlier in progression, e.g., in tumor growth both at the primary and metastatic sites. Extracellular proteases may co-operatively influence matrix degradation and tumor cell invasion through proteolytic cascades, with individual proteases having distinct roles in tumor growth, invasion, migration and angiogenesis. In this review, we use cathepsin B as an example to examine the involvement of proteases in tumor progression and metastasis. We discuss the effect of interactions among tumor cells, stromal cells, and the extracellular matrix on the regulation of protease expression. Further elucidation of the role of proteases in cancer will allow us to design more effective inhibitors and novel protease-based drugs for clinical use.
ISSN:0009-8981
1873-3492
DOI:10.1016/S0009-8981(99)00224-7