Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0027627 (metastases)
 103,950 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Plasma and ascitic fluid of rats bearing the Yoshida ascites hepatoma AH-130 were shown to contain high levels of proteolytic enzymes belonging to different classes active at neutral and acidic pH. Relative to those measured in control rat plasma, in tumor-bearing animals, the activity levels of lysosomal cathepsins B and L, in their latent, acidic-activatable form, were approximately 5-fold higher in plasma and 9-fold higher in ascitic fluid, and cathepsin D activity was about 5-fold higher in both plasma and ascitic fluid. Plasma and ascitic fluid of tumor-bearing rats also contained novel neutral and acidic gelatinolytic activities. The latter, as revealed by zymographic analysis conducted at pH 6.0, in the presence of dithiothreitol and in the absence of divalent metal ions, was sensitive to iodoacetamide inhibition but not to EDTA, showed a molecular mass of approximately 90 kD on SDS-PAGE, and was lost upon limited proteolysis with pepsin. Therefore, this enzyme is not identifiable as cathepsin B or L or their related latent forms and may represent a novel, so far undescribed, gelatinase. Its presence exclusively in the body fluids of AH-130-bearing rats suggests its possible use as a tumor marker.
Invasion Metastasis 1995
PMID:High levels of proteolytic enzymes in the ascitic fluid and plasma of rats bearing the Yoshida AH-130 hepatoma. 862 Dec 67

A number of studies have shown that altered cellular glycosylation, as detected by binding of Helix pomatia lectin to paraffin sections, is associated with metastatic disease and consequent poor patient prognosis in breast and other cancers. In a 24-year retrospective study, sections of 373 primary breast cancers were stained for binding of the lectin using two different histochemical techniques: a direct method (using peroxidase-conjugated lectin) and an indirect method (using native, unconjugated lectin). Similar percentages of cases were positive (79%) and negative (21%) for lectin binding with either technique, but there was enormous inconsistency when individual cases were examined. A total of 38/373 (10.2%) cases that were negative by the indirect method were positive by the direct method, and 37/373 (9.9%) cases that were negative by the direct method were positive by the indirect method. Life tables calculated for lectin staining vs nonstaining cases showed a very strong correlation between lectin binding and long-term survival (p < 0.0001) when staining was performed by the indirect method, but only very weak correlation with prognosis (p < 0.03, borderline significance) when the direct technique was employed. SDS-PAGE revealed that there were differences in breast cancer glycoproteins recognized by native lectin and peroxidase-conjugated lectin immobilized on Sepharose 4B affinity beads. Helix pomatia lectin binding appears to be an intriguing and potentially valuable marker of biological behavior in breast cancer. This study emphasizes the importance of selecting an appropriate immunohistochemical technique for its visualization.
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PMID:Histochemistry to detect Helix pomatia lectin binding in breast cancer: methodology makes a difference. 862 8

The expression of CMP-NeuAc: Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc alpha 2,6 sialyltransferase (alpha 2,6-ST) [EC 2.4.99.1] and glycoproteins bearing alpha 2,6-linked sialic acids were examined in primary human brain tumours and cell lines. 79% (19/24) of the meningiomas expressed alpha 2,6-ST mRNA, 42% (10/24) of which showed very high expression. alpha 2,6-ST mRNA expression was undetectable in normal brain tissue. In contrast, only 1/13 of the gliomas examined expressed detectable alpha 2,6-ST mRNA. Metastases to the brain did not express measurable amounts of alpha 2,6-ST mRNA. Less expression was found in malignant (i.e. anaplastic) compared to benign (i.e. meningothelial) meningiomas. Two-dimensional SDS-PAGE of glioma and meningioma proteins, followed by Sambucus nigra lectin staining, revealed the presence of a glycoprotein bearing alpha 2,6-linked sialic acids, M(r) = 53 kDa and a pI = 7.0 (MEN-1) that appeared in all seven of the meningiomas examined, but was expressed at barely detectable levels, if at all, in seven out of the seven glioblastomas examined. Thus, decreased alpha 2,6-ST expression may play a role in the aggressive nature of anaplastic meningiomas, but appears to be virtually absent in all tumours of glial origin.
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PMID:The expression of CMP-NeuAc: Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc alpha 2,6 sialyltransferase [EC 2.4.99.1] and glycoproteins bearing alpha 2,6-linked sialic acids in human brain tumours. 874 63

Immunolabeling studies have previously indicated that increased expression of the 72-kDa matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) is associated with human prostate cancer progression. It is not known if the enzymatically active MMP-2 is expressed in prostate cancer and if increased expression is associated with progression. Monoclonal antibodies specific for the activated MMP-2 molecule (MMP-2a, 66 kDa) were used (along with previously developed MMP-2 antibodies) to investigate the expression of MMP-2a and MMP-2 in human prostate tissue extracts. SDS-PAGE, Western blots, and zymography indicated that MMP-2a expression was undetectable in normal prostate (n = 6), benign prostatic hyperplasia (n = 9), and in prostate cancer of low Gleason score (GS) 4 (n = 11). MMP-2a was expressed in prostate cancer of increased GS (n = 37) and in lymph node metastases (n = 7). Quantitative ELISAs of human prostate cancer tissue extracts revealed that the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-2a per microgram of protein increased in prostate cancer tissues of increased GS (n = 48). MMP-2a levels were also high in prostatic lymph node metastases, but MMP-2 was not expressed or was barely detectable in these tissues. The molar ratios of MMP-2a to MMP-2 increased from 0 to 6.23 in tissues of GS 4 to 10, respectively. We conclude that significant increases in MMP-2a are associated with the malignant progression of prostate cancer and with tumor cell metastases to lymph nodes.
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PMID:Evidence for increased activated metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2a) expression associated with human prostate cancer progression. 885 77

Despite its tendency to metastasize and grow multifocally, papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the most common endocrine malignancy, usually displays an indolent clinical course. Although this behavior probably reflects the inherent low growth potential of PTC cells, it has been postulated that the striking inflammatory reaction often present in PTC represents the activation of a protective, tumor-induced immune response. In a recent immunohistochemical study, we reported that immunoglobulin (IgG) and complement (C3d, C4d and C5) are specifically deposited in PTC tumor tissue. Endeavors were then made to isolate and identify tumor-associated antigens. Immunoprecipitation employing the serum and tumor tissue of PTC patients produced two bands by SDS-PAGE, at approximately 34.5 and 35 kD, which were not present in normal thyroid tissue. Three tryptic peptides of the 35 kD band were sequenced, identifying it as a fragment of cytokeratin 1, a structural protein not normally expressed in the thyroid. The results indicate a tumor-specific antibody response against an aberrantly expressed protein in PTC.
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PMID:Identification of a 35 kD tumor-associated autoantigen in papillary thyroid carcinoma. 891 40

Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor, uPAR, in the processes of tumor progression and metastasis. Thus, the uPA/uPAR interaction may represent an important target for inhibiting metastatic disease. The baculovirus expression system was used to produce high levels of a secreted uPA-Immunoglobulin G fusion protein (uPA-IgG) which could then be used for displacing uPA from the surface of tumor cells. The recombinant uPA-IgG fusion protein was placed under the control of either the viral polyhedrin promoter or a copy of the viral basic protein promoter. Recombinant viruses were then used to infect Sf9 and BTI-Tn-5B1-4 cells. Infection of both cell types resulted in the production of secreted uPA-IgG. The molecular mass of the secreted protein as determined by SDS-PAGE was approximately 40 kDa. The highest level of secreted uPA-IgG, 444 microg/ml, was found in the culture medium of BTI-Tn-5B1-4 cells 72 h post-infection with the basic protein promoter-uPA-IgG virus. In the case of Sf9 cells, the highest level of secreted protein was 195 microg/ml. The amount of cell-associated uPA-IgG in infected BTI-Tn-5B1-4 cells was significantly less than that of infected Sf9 cells, reflecting the superior secretory capability of the BTI-Tn-5B1-4 cells. The uPA-IgG was readily purified using a combination of zinc chelate and sephacryl S-100 column chromatography. Routinely, greater than 100 mg of greater than 95% pure protein could be obtained per liter of culture medium collected at 72 h post-infection of BTI-Tn-5B1-4 cells with the basic protein promoter virus. BIAcore analysis and competition binding assays using LOX human malignant melanoma cells expressing uPAR indicated that the purified recombinant protein possessed similar ligand binding characteristics to that of human uPA.
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PMID:Production of a urokinase plasminogen activator-IgG fusion protein (uPA-IgG) in the baculovirus expression system. 918 59

We have previously documented that adoptively transferred IL-2-activated NK (A-NK) cells can accumulate within cancer metastases. Electron microscopic studies of pulmonary metastases have revealed that adoptively transferred A-NK cells that accumulate within metastases bind to endothelial cells and are able to traverse basement membranes. We have now extended these morphologic studies. We report that rat A-NK cells produce two matrix metalloproteinases: MMP-2 and MMP-9, as determined by SDS-PAGE gelatin zymography. These activities are inhibited following incubation with BB-94 (batimastat), a specific inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases but not with 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin, an inhibitor of neutral serine proteases. The identity of MMP-2 was confirmed by Western blots using a polyclonal Ab against human MMP-2, whereas reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis of mRNA extracts of A-NK cells has confirmed the presence of MMP-9. In addition, we report for the first time that A-NK cells can migrate through a model basement membrane-like extracellular matrix. Moreover, the ability of A-NK cells to migrate through this model basement membrane was partially inhibited by BB-94; however, BB-94 has no effect on A-NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity, suggesting that matrix metalloproteinases do not contribute to cytolytic function of A-NK cells. In sum, our studies show that A-NK cells employ BB-94-inhibitable matrix metalloproteinases to degrade extracellular matrices. This suggests that matrix metalloproteinases may play a role in the accumulation of A-NK cells within cancer metastases.
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PMID:Matrix metalloproteinases produced by rat IL-2-activated NK cells. 957 26

A novel monoclonal antibody has been developed that reacts strongly with human prostatic cancer, especially tumors of high grade. This antibody (7E11C-5) is currently in Phase 3 trials as an imaging agent for metastatic disease. We have cloned the gene that encodes the antigen that is recognized by the 7E11C-5 monoclonal antibody and have designated this unique protein prostate-specific membrane (PSM) antigen. PSM antigen is a putative class II transmembranous glycoprotein exhibiting a molecular size of Mr 94,000. Functionally, class II membrane proteins serve as transport or binding proteins or have hydrolytic activity. Preliminary studies have demonstrated binding of pteroylmonoglutamate (folate) to membrane fractions that also cross-reacted with the PSM monoclonal antibody. We observed substantial carboxypeptidase activity as folate hydrolase associated with PSM antigen. The purpose of our study was to demonstrate that human prostatic carcinoma cells expressing PSM antigen exhibit folate hydrolase activity using methotrexate triglutamate (MTXGlu3) and pteroylpentaglutamate (PteGlu5) as substrates. Isolated membrane fractions from four human prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, PC-3, TSU-Prl, and Duke-145) were examined for folate hydrolase activity using capillary electrophoresis. After timed incubations at various pH ranges and in the presence and absence of thiol reagents, separation of pteroyl(glutamate)n derivatives was achieved with an electrolyte of sodium borate and SDS, while absorbance was monitored at 300 nm. The results demonstrate clearly that LNCaP cells, which highly express PSM, hydrolyze gamma-glutamyl linkages of MTXGlu3. The membrane-bound enzyme is an exopeptidase, because it progressively liberates glutamates from MTXGlu3 and PteGlu5 with accumulation of MTX and PteGlu1, respectively. The semipurified enzyme has a broad activity from pH 2.5 to 9.5 and exhibits activity maxima at pH 5 and 8. Enzymatic activity is maintained in the presence of reduced glutathione, homocysteine, and p-hydroxymercuribenzoate (0.05-0.5 mm) but was inhibited weakly by DTT (>/=0.2 mm). By contrast to LNCaP cell membranes, membranes isolated from other human prostate adenocarcinoma cells (PC-3, Duke-145, and TSU-Pr1) did not exhibit comparable hydrolase activity, nor did they react with 7E11-C5 monoclonal antibody. After transfection of PC-3 cells with a full-length 2.65-kb PSM cDNA subcloned into a pREP7 eukaryotic expression vector, non-PSM antigen-expressing PC-3 cells developed immunoreactivity to 7E11-C5 monoclonal antibody and demonstrated folate hydrolase activities and optimum pH activity profiles identical to those of LNCaP cells. The membrane-bound enzymes from both LNCaP- and PC-3-transfected cells also have a capacity to hydrolyze an alpha-linked glutamyl moiety from N-acetyl-alpha-aspartylglutamate. We have identified that PSM antigen is a pteroyl poly-gamma-glutamyl carboxypeptidase (folate hydrolase) and is expressed strongly in human prostate cancer. Cancer cells that express this enzyme are resistant to methotrexate therapy. Those developing future therapeutic strategies in the treatment of prostate cancer that utilize folate antagonists need to consider this mechanism of resistance.
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PMID:Prostate-specific membrane antigen: a novel folate hydrolase in human prostatic carcinoma cells. 981 19

An aberrant platelet immunorelated glycoprotein Ib (GPIb) receptor expressed by human tumor cells appears to participate in primary adhesive interactions required for the metastatic process. Hence, we questioned whether plasma von Willebrand's factor (vWf), its adhesive ligand, manifested comparable anomalies in patients with disseminated tumors. Plasma specimens from patients with disseminated metastases showed 68% (P < 0.013), 91% (P < 0.0009), and 207% (P < 0.0009) enhancements in FVIII:C activity, vWf-related antigen levels, and ristocetin co-factor activity, respectively, whereas their SDS-agarose electrophoretic analysis demonstrated a 165% (P < 0.001) increase in the highly polymeric forms of vWf compared to control preparations from patients with corresponding, localized solid tumors. Substantially reduced levels of vWf-cleaving protease activity were observed in study patient specimens, with no plasma inhibitors detectable. The clinical presence and absence of tumor metastases correlated significantly with vWf-cleaving enzyme activities of < or = 15% and > or = 88%, respectively (n = 20; P < 0.0001). Finally, with an in vitro model system, tumor-induced platelet aggregation was enhanced by 127% (P < 0.001) in study patient platelet-rich plasma (PRP) compared to control PRP and could be completely inhibited (P < 0.0009) when both tumor cells and their PRP substrates were incubated with monoclonal antibodies directed against the vWf binding epitope of GPIb alpha and against the GPIb binding epitope of plasma vWf, respectively. Unusually large vWf multimers observed in patients with disseminated tumors probably result from deficient vWf-cleaving protease activity and may represent a novel mechanism regulating primary platelet-tumor adhesive interactions involved in the metastatic process.
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PMID:Deficient activity of von Willebrand's factor-cleaving protease in patients with disseminated malignancies. 1023 15

The activity of total thymidine kinase in serum (S-TK) has been used as a tumor maker for decades. To date such activity has been determined using [125]I-iodo-deoxyuridine as a substrate. The aim of this study was to develop a new, antibody-based technique for the measurement of cytoplasmic thymidine kinase (TK1) in serum. Both mono- and polyclonal antibodies against S-TK1 were used in dot blot assay. S-TK1 was characterized by SDS and IEF techniques. Sixty-five breast cancer patients were studied, including 17 preoperative and 38 postoperative tumor-free patients and 10 patients with metastases to the lymph nodes (N1-2). They were compared to patients with benign tumors (n=21) and healthy volunteers (n=11). S-TK1 was low (0-1.0 pM) in healthy volunteers, while in preoperative patients the level was increased 6-110-fold. Significant differences were observed between preoperative patients and healthy volunteers (p=0.005), preoperative patients and patients with benign tumors (p<0.001), and preoperative patients and postoperative patients without metastases (p<0.001). No significant difference was observed between preoperative patients and postoperative patients with metastases (p=0.191). The S-TK activity in preoperative patients was also high in serum, but no decrease was observed following surgery. In conclusion, the anti-TK1 antibody could be a good marker for monitoring the response of breast cancer patients to therapy.
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PMID:The clinical significance of thymidine kinase 1 measurement in serum of breast cancer patients using anti-TK1 antibody. 1088 87


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