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Molecular mechanisms of protease‐mediated tumor invasiveness
Author(s) -
Blasl Francesco
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.2930530507
Subject(s) - plasmin , urokinase receptor , plasminogen activator , urokinase , extracellular matrix , metastasis , cancer research , cancer cell , basement membrane , microbiology and biotechnology , receptor , cell surface receptor , protease , in vivo , cancer , medicine , biology , biochemistry , enzyme
The biochemical, regulatory, and physiological aspects of plasmin formation by the urokinase‐type plasminogen activator (uPA) is discussed and its involvement in cancer malignancy analyzed. Cell surface plasminogen activation has been shown to be essential in extracellular matrix degradation, basement membrane dissolution, and cancer invasiveness and metastasis in a variety of model systems. The ability of cells to produce plasmin on their surface depends on the presence of uPA and plasminogen receptors, and is the basis of the regulation of the plasminogen activating system in vivo. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.