Abstract
Proteases have emerged as important modulators of the metastatic capacity of cancer. However, metastasis is regulated by multiple other characteristics of the tumor cell and evidence suggests the participation of multiple classes of proteases. In the present article we review the literature concerning the potential biological roles of multiple proteases in breast cancer. In particular, we focus on the gelatin-degrading metallo proteinase and on a novel 80 KDa matrix-degrading protease that appears to be commonly expressed in hormone dependent breast cancer cell lines.
MeSH terms
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Adenocarcinoma / enzymology
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Adenocarcinoma / pathology
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Basement Membrane / metabolism
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Breast / enzymology
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Breast Neoplasms / enzymology*
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Breast Neoplasms / pathology
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Endopeptidases / classification
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Endopeptidases / physiology*
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Estrogens*
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Extracellular Matrix / metabolism*
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Extracellular Matrix Proteins / metabolism
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Humans
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Neoplasm Invasiveness
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Neoplasm Metastasis*
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Neoplasm Proteins / physiology*
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Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / enzymology*
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Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / pathology
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Protease Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Protease Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Tumor Cells, Cultured
Substances
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Estrogens
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Extracellular Matrix Proteins
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Neoplasm Proteins
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Protease Inhibitors
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Endopeptidases