Abstract
One important proteolytic event during metastasis and angiogenesis appears to be the degradation of basement membrane components. A specific class of extracellular matrix (ECM) degrading metallo-enzymes, the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), also known as the matrixins, are thought to have a critical role in the creation of the proteolytic defect in basement membrane type IV collagen that allows tumour cells to escape from their primary site. The expression of matrixin proteases has been linked with many physiologic and pathologic processes involving ECM turnover. A number of correlative and functional studies suggest that the action of MMPs is required during tumour invasion and progression, as well as angiogenesis. The correlative studies have demonstrated overexpression of MMPs in many human cancer tissues at both the protein (immunoperoxidase) and mRNA (in situ hybridisation) levels. Functional studies have used endogenous inhibitors (Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases, TIMPs) or synthetic MMP in...
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