The plasminogen activation system in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis.
Cell Mol Life Sci
; 57(1): 25-40, 2000 Jan 20.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10949579
ABSTRACT
Generation of the serine proteinase plasmin from the extracellular zymogen plasminogen can be catalyzed by either of two other serine proteinases, the urokinase- and tissue-type plasminogen activators (uPA and tPA). The plasminogen activation system also includes the serpins PAI-1 and PAI-2, and the uPA receptor (uPAR). Many findings, gathered over several decades, strongly suggest an important and causal role for uPA-catalyzed plasmin generation in cancer cell invasion through the extracellular matrix. Recent evidence suggests that the uPA system is also involved in cancer cell-directed tissue remodeling. Moreover, the system also supports cell migration and invasion by plasmin-independent mechanisms, including multiple interactions between uPA, uPAR, PAI-1, extracellular matrix proteins, integrins, endocytosis receptors, and growth factors. These interactions seem to allow temporal and spatial reorganizations of the system during cell migration and a selective degradation of extracellular matrix proteins during invasion. The increased knowledge about the plasminogen activation system may allow utilization of its components as targets for anti-invasive therapy.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Plasminogen
/
Neoplasm Invasiveness
/
Neoplasm Metastasis
/
Neoplasms
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Cell Mol Life Sci
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
Year:
2000
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Denmark