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)

We have investigated the adhesive properties and invasiveness of cells of the human ovarian carcinoma line, NIH:OVCAR-3, in vitro. OVCAR-3 cells exhibited a similar rate of adhesion to all substrates tested including laminin, fibronectin, and collagens I and IV. The synthetic peptide YIGSR-NH2, which corresponds to an attachment site in laminin, inhibited the adhesion of the cells to laminin, but not to fibronectin. In contrast, a GRGDS-NH2 peptide blocked adhesion to fibronectin but not to laminin. OVCAR-3 cells invaded and formed branched colonies on Matrigel. Colony formation was retarded by both YIGSR-NH2 and GRGDS-NH2 peptides. Serine protease inhibitors and human recombinant TIMP, the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases, inhibited ovarian tumor cell invasion while a synthetic collagenase IV inhibitor (SC-44463) had no effect. These studies suggest that metalloproteases other than collagenase IV may be important for the invasive activity of ovarian cancer cells. It is possible that synthetic peptides with antiadhesive cellular activity and certain antiproteases could be used to control the progressive colonization and invasion of peritoneal surfaces by malignant ovarian cancer cells.
Invasion Metastasis 1991
PMID:Effects of synthetic peptides and protease inhibitors on the interaction of a human ovarian cancer cell line (NIH:OVCAR-3) with a reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel). 191 87

Serine proteases, such as alpha-chymotrypsin or elastase, caused an aggregation of rat ascites tumour cell lines, AH-130, AH-109A and YS, in a protein free medium which preserved the cell viability. This aggregation, which was monitored spectrophotometrically, was dependent upon the protease activities and was resistant to treatment with either a calcium chelating reagent (EDTA) or neuraminidase. However, the tumour cell aggregates were redispersed by treatment with deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I). This dispersal effect was dependent upon the DNase activity. A possible relationship between the tumour cell aggregation and development of blood-borne metastasis was studied. An intravenous inoculation in rats of tumour cell aggregates performed by the alpha-chymotrypsin treatment resulted in significantly higher numbers of lung metastatic foci than an injection of single cells. When the re-separated single cells, prepared in vitro by treatment with DNase I following alpha-chymotrypsin treatment, were injected instead of the aggregates, the enhancement of metastasis was reversed. These enhancement and reversal effects were mimicked in vivo by intravenous injections of protease and nuclease following inoculation of a single cell suspension. That is, the number of metastatic foci caused by single cell inoculation followed by an intravenous alpha-chymotrypsin injection, was higher than that in a control group receiving PBS instead of alpha-chymotrypsin. Again, this augmentation was reversed by an injection of DNase I following alpha-chymotrypsin injection. Furthermore, an injection of DNase I alone itself reduced the starting number of metastases resulting from injection of the single tumour cell suspension. These data suggest that the metastatic behaviour of tumour cells may be increased by protease inducible DNA dependent cell aggregation should it occur in the blood stream.
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PMID:Serine protease-induced enhancement of blood-borne metastasis of rat ascites tumour cells and its prevention with deoxyribonuclease. 212 Dec 20

A high-molecular-weight proteinase in rat ascites hepatoma AH109A cells was purified to apparent homogeneity by conventional chromatographic techniques. The purified proteinase degraded over the broad pH range, 7.0-9.0, not only denatured hemoglobin but also type I and IV collagen in the absence of calcium. Its activity was maximum at pH 8.0, heat-labile and affected by thiol reagents. Serine proteinase inhibitors such as diisopropyl fluorophosphate, soybean trypsin inhibitor, leupeptin, and antipain also partially inhibited its activity. The enzyme was found mainly in the cytosol fraction, and had a molecular weight of 450 kilodaltons (Kd) as determined by gel filtration chromatography and showed a single band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nondenaturing condition, although it was dissociated into lower-molecular-weight subunits, 25.5-32 Kd in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and 2-mercaptoethanol. These properties suggested that it was a kind of a cytosolic high-molecular-weight proteinase. The collagenolytic activity of this proteinase may play an important role in cancer cell invasion and metastasis.
Invasion Metastasis 1988
PMID:High-molecular-weight neutral proteinase of rat ascites hepatoma cells and their collagenolytic activity. 305 24

Gliomas, a type of devastating primary brain tumors, are distinct from other solid, non-neural primary neoplasms, in that they display extensive infiltrative invasive behavior but seldom metastasize to distant organs. This invasiveness into the surrounding normal brain tissue makes gliomas a major challenge for clinical intervention. Total surgical resection of gliomas is not possible, and recurrence of tumor growth is common; mean survival time is 8-12 months. Although substantial progress has been made recently toward understanding the behavior of gliomas, the mechanisms that facilitate invasion are still poorly documented. Clues to the invasion process have been ascertained through clarification of the key roles played by the extracellular matrix (ECM), cell-adhesion molecules and matrix degrading proteases. Serine proteases and metalloproteinases have been implicated in glioma tumor cell-invasion. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in particular can degrade almost all known ECM components and seem to play important roles in mediating glioblastoma tumor cell invasion. This review focuses on recent developments concerning the role of MMPs in the invasiveness of human gliomas.
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PMID:Matrix metalloproteinases and their biological function in human gliomas. 1057 11

Dysregulated proteolysis is a hallmark of cancer. Malignant cells require a range of proteolytic activities to enable growth, survival, and expansion. Serine proteases of the S1 or trypsin-like family have well recognized roles in the maintenance of normal homeostasis as well as in the pathology of diseases such as cancer. Recently a rapidly expanding subgroup of S1 proteases has been recognized that are directly anchored to plasma membranes. These membrane anchored serine proteases are anchored either via a carboxy-terminal transmembrane domain (Type I), a carboxy terminal hydrophobic region that functions as a signal for membrane attachment via a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol linkage (GPI-anchored), or via an amino terminal proximal transmembrane domain (Type II or TTSP). The TTSPs also encode multiple domains in their stem regions that may function in regulatory interactions. The serine protease catalytic domains of these enzymes show high homology but also possess features indicating unique substrate specificities. It is likely that the membrane anchored serine proteases have evolved to perform complex functions in the regulation of cellular signaling events at the plasma membrane and within the extracellular matrix. Disruption or mutation of several of the genes encoding these proteases are associated with disease. Many of the membrane anchored serine proteases show restricted tissue distribution in normal cells, but their expression is widely dysregulated during tumor growth and progression. Diagnostic or therapeutic targeting of the membrane anchored serine proteases has potential as promising new approaches for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.
Cancer Metastasis Rev
PMID:Membrane anchored serine proteases: a rapidly expanding group of cell surface proteolytic enzymes with potential roles in cancer. 1278 99

Cathepsin B is a lysosomal cysteine protease in normal cells and tissues. In malignant tumors and premalignant lesions, the expression of cathepsin B is highly upregulated and the enzyme is secreted and becomes associated with the cell surface. Increases in expression are mediated at many levels ranging from gene amplification to increased stability of mRNA and protein. Cathepsin B is synthesized as a preproenzyme and the primary pathways for its normal trafficking to the lysosome utilize mannose 6-phosphate receptors (MPRs). Inactive procathepsin B is processed to active single and double chain forms of cathepsin B in the late endosomes and lysosomes, respectively. Tumor cells secrete procathepsin B and both active forms of cathepsin B. Secretion of procathepsin B occurs principally as a result of increased expression, whereas secretion of active cathepsin B seems to involve active processes that can be induced by a variety of mechanisms. Once secreted procathepsin B binds to the tumor cell surface via p11, the light chain of the annexin II heterotetramer. This binding seems to facilitate conversion of procathepsin B to its active forms. Cathepsin B and the annexin II heterotetramer colocalize in caveolae (lipid raft) fractions isolated from tumor cells. Serine proteases and matrix metalloproteinases also have been found to associate with caveolae and some with the annexin II heterotetramer. Our working hypothesis is that pericellular cathepsin B through its proximity to other proteases in caveolae participates in, perhaps even initiates, a proteolytic cascade on the tumor cell surface.
Cancer Metastasis Rev
PMID:Pericellular cathepsin B and malignant progression. 1278 1

The underlying basis for rising levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in prostate cancer is not fully understood, but attention has turned to the possibility that loss of normal p53 function might be directly involved. We have investigated the relationship between p53 function and PSA expression using in vitro and in vivo approaches. Three prostate cancer-derived p53 mutants (F134L, M237L, R273H) were introduced into LNCaP prostate cancer cells and stable transfectants established. Expression of mutant p53 was demonstrated by Western blot analysis, inactivation of wtp53 function, and a loss of p53-dependent responses to DNA damage induced by UV-irradiation and cisplatin. Levels of PSA mRNA and secreted protein were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Serine protease activity was assessed using an esterase assay. In vivo effects of mutant p53 expression were examined after orthotopic implantation into prostates of nude mice. Expression of all p53 mutants was associated with elevated PSA mRNA and secreted PSA protein. In a representative line, mutant p53 was also associated with increased PSA protease-like activity compared with a control line expressing wildtype p53. Overall PSA levels, and PSA levels in serum from mice bearing tumors derived from cells expressing mutant p53, were increased compared with levels in mice bearing tumors derived from control cells. In addition, the tumors derived from cells with mutant p53 had increased vascularization and induced lymph node metastases. These data provide in vitro and in vivo support for the notion that p53 mutations directly contribute to increased levels of serum PSA, and are associated with more aggressive tumors.
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PMID:Elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in prostate cancer cells expressing mutant p53 is associated with tumor metastasis. 1458 98

Inflammatory responses now have a defined central role in cancer cell growth, invasion, and metastases. Anti-inflammatory proteins from viruses target key stages in immune response pathways and have potential as novel therapeutics for cancer, including highly potent virus-derived inhibitors of protease, chemokine, cytokine, and apoptotic cascades that have been identified. Serine proteases, in addition to their conventional roles in thrombosis, thrombolysis, and apoptotic pathways, are essential regulators of inflammation and are associated with developing cancers. Chemokines drive other inflammatory response pathways with central roles in cell invasion and activation as well as establishing the microenvironment of tumors, modulating immune cell infiltration, cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis. This review focuses on the mechanisms of action and potential for application of viral immunomodulatory proteins as anticancer therapeutics.
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PMID:Virus-derived anti-inflammatory proteins: potential therapeutics for cancer. 2255 6

Tumor cells are characterized by uncontrolled cell growth at a primary site that is caused by genetic alterations. Tumor cells that metastasize from their primary site to distant locations are commonly referred to as malignant. Cell migration is a critical step in this process. The ability of tumor cells to migrate and invade is partly controlled by proteolytic enzymes. These enzymes are secreted by either the tumor cells themselves or adjacent cells. They represent all classes of proteases, including serine and cysteine proteases. Serine proteases, in particular urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), initiate a proteolytic cascade that culminates in degrading components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Some serine proteases are controlled by a superfamily of proteins known as serpins. This minireview provides an overview of serpins that are vital in regulating tumor cell migration and progressing cancer.
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PMID:The role of serpins in tumor cell migration. 2538 52

The cytosolic factor Saccharomyces cerevisiae-like 1 (SEC14L1) is a regulator of lipid metabolism and signaling pathways that has been suggested to play a role in cancer. To learn more about its relevance for prostate cancer, SEC14L1 expression was analyzed on a tissue microarray containing samples from 11152 prostate cancer patients. In benign prostate glands, SEC14L1 immunostaining was absent or weak. In prostate cancer, SEC14L1 positivity was found in 80% of 9876 interpretable tumors including 9% with strong, 38% with moderate, and 32% with weak immunostaining. SEC14L1 expression was more frequent in Transmembrane Protease, Serine 2 (TMPRSS2):Ets-related gene (ERG) fusion-positive (89%) than in TMPSSR2:ERG-negative cancers (73%, P < .0001). Comparative analysis of SEC14L1 expression in TMPSSR2:ERG-positive and -negative cancers suggested a different role of SEC14L1 in the 2 subsets: in TMPSSR2:ERG-negative cancers, strong SEC14L1 expression was associated with early prostate-specific antigen recurrence (P = .0270), advanced tumor stage (P = .0042), high Gleason score (P < .0001), and high preoperative prostate-specific antigen levels (P = .0035). In TMPSSR2:ERG-positive cancers, strong SEC14L1 staining was linked to a prolonged recurrence-free interval (P = .0023) and absence of lymph node metastases (P = .0002). Strong associations of high SEC14L1 levels with chromosomal deletions (5q, 6q, phosphatase and tensin homolog gene, 3p13; P < .0001) and a high Ki-67 labeling index (P < .0001) were seen in TMPSSR2:ERG-negative but not TMPSSR2:ERG-positive cancers. A direct or indirect role of SEC14L1 in maintenance of genomic integrity and regulating cell proliferation may thus exclusively exist in TMPSSR2:ERG-negative cancers. In conclusion, our data suggest a markedly different role of SEC14L1 in TMPSSR2:ERG-negative and TMPSSR2:ERG-positive prostate cancers.
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PMID:Saccharomyces cerevisiae-like 1 overexpression is frequent in prostate cancer and has markedly different effects in Ets-related gene fusion-positive and fusion-negative cancers. 2570 Dec 28


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