Cysteine peptidases and their inhibitors in breast and genital cancer

• Published in: Folia histochemica et cytobiologica Vol. 48; no. 3; pp. 323 - 327
• Main Authors: Agrawal, Anil Kumar, Ekonjo, Godwin Bwire, Teterycz, Elżbieta, Zyoeko, Dorota, Grzebieniak, Zygmunt, Milan, Magdalena, Marek, Grzegorz, Siewiński, Maciej
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Poland Wydawnictwo Via Medica 30-09-2010
• Subjects: Antibodies; Blood vessels; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - enzymology; Cancer; Carcinogenesis; Carcinogens; Connective tissues; Cysteine; Cysteine - metabolism; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors - metabolism; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Endopeptidases - metabolism; Female; Genital cancers; Genital Neoplasms, Female - enzymology; Humans; Metastases; Peptidases; Peptide Hydrolases - metabolism; Proteinase; Proteinase inhibitors; Proteolysis; Tumors; U-Plasminogen activator; Urokinase
• ISSN: 0239-8508; 1897-5631
• DOI: 10.2478/v10042-10-0067-2

Cysteine proteinases and their inhibitors probably play the main role in carcinogenesis and metastasis. The metastasis process need external proteolytic activities that pass several barriers which are membranous structures of the connective tissue which includes, the basement membrane of blood vessels. Activities of the proteinases are regulated by endogenous inhibitors and activators. The imbalance between cysteine proteinases and cystatins seems to be associated with an increase in metastatic potential in some tumors. It has also been reported that proteinase inhibitors, specific antibodies for these enzymes and inhibition of the urokinase receptor may prevent cancer cell invasion. Some proteinase inhibitor could serve as agents for cancer treatment.