Regulation of matrix metalloproteinase expression in tumor invasion (original) (raw)

Matrix metalloproteinases and tumor invasion: from correlation and causality to the clinic

Seminars in Cancer Biology, 1996

Tumor cell invasion is now viewed as dysregulated physiologic invasion. Investigators have started to define the molecular events that are involved in this process. We find that there are many functional similarities with molecular events involved in physiologic process such as angiogenesis and wound healing. Matrix metalloproteinase activity is a common denominator in these pathologic conditions and in normal responses. Studies using endogenous metalloproteinase inhibitors suggest that targeting matrix metalloproteinase activity may prevent tumor cell dissemination. The development and pre-clinical testing of novel, low molecular weight matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors support this concept and suggest that an exciting new era of cancer therapy is on the horizon.

Matrix Metalloproteinases Shape the Tumor Microenvironment in Cancer Progression

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Cancer progression with uncontrolled tumor growth, local invasion, and metastasis depends largely on the proteolytic activity of numerous matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which affect tissue integrity, immune cell recruitment, and tissue turnover by degrading extracellular matrix (ECM) components and by releasing matrikines, cell surface-bound cytokines, growth factors, or their receptors. Among the MMPs, MMP-14 is the driving force behind extracellular matrix and tissue destruction during cancer invasion and metastasis. MMP-14 also influences both intercellular as well as cell–matrix communication by regulating the activity of many plasma membrane-anchored and extracellular proteins. Cancer cells and other cells of the tumor stroma, embedded in a common extracellular matrix, interact with their matrix by means of various adhesive structures, of which particularly invadopodia are capable to remodel the matrix through spatially and temporally finely tuned proteolysis. As a deeper un...

Role of matrix metalloproteinases in invasion, and metastasis: biology, diagnosis and inhibitors

Cytotechnology, 1993

The processes of tumour invasion and subsequent metastasis are the most lethal aspects of cancer. Whilst many factors are involved, the matrix metatloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated as key-rate limiting enzymes in the invasive process. This family consisting of eight members of similar structure, can be roughly divided into three groups based on substrate specificity. All are secreted in a latent form and require proteolytic cleavage for activation. The expression of these enzymes is regulated at the transcriptional level by a variety of growth factors and oncogenes. They are also regulated at the protein level by a family of specific inhibitors called the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Studies in human tumour samples have shown a positive correlation between metalloproteinase expression and metastatic potential. The levels of metalloproteinase expression have been manipulated using molecular biology techniques in several cell lines and shown a similar correlation. These results suggest that an understanding of metalloproteinase expression and proteolytic activity may lead to the development of effective therapeutic agents with the potential to reduce the incidence of metastatic cancer.

Membrane type-matrix metalloproteinases and tumor progression

Biochimie, 2005

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc endopeptidases that process growth factors, growth factor binding proteins, cell surface proteins, degrade extracellular matrix (ECM) components and thereby play a central role in tissue remodeling and tumor progression. Membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases (MT-MMPs) are a recently discovered subgroup of intrinsic plasma membrane proteins. Their functions have been extended from pericellular proteolysis and control of cell migration to cell signaling, control of cell proliferation and regulation of multiple stages of tumor progression including growth and angiogenesis. This review sheds light on the new functions of MT-MMPs and their inhibitors in tumor development and angiogenesis, and presents recent investigations that document their influence on various cell functions.

Role of pericellular proteolysis by membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase in cancer invasion and angiogenesis

Cancer and Metastasis Reviews, 2003

Membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) is an integral membrane proteinase that is frequently expressed in malignant cancer cells and has potent invasion-promoting activity. When expressed on the cell surface, MT1-MMP degrades the extracellular matrix (ECM) barrier adjacent to the cells to maintain the migration route to traverse the tissue. But MT1-MMP is not just an enzyme that degrades ECM. MT1-MMP also introduces limited cleavage into proteins at the cell-ECM interspaces and converts their functions. The target molecules are ECM components, cell adhesion molecules, and latent forms of MMPs. Through these processing events MT1-MMP modulates the migratory and invasive behavior of the cells.

New and paradoxical roles of matrix metalloproteinases in the tumor microenvironment

Frontiers in pharmacology, 2012

Processes such as cell proliferation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, or invasion are strongly influenced by the surrounding microenvironment of the tumor. Therefore, the ability to change these surroundings represents an important property through which tumor cells are able to acquire specific functions necessary for tumor growth and dissemination. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) constitute key players in this process, allowing tumor cells to modify the extracellular matrix (ECM) and release cytokines, growth factors, and other cell-surface molecules, ultimately facilitating protease-dependent tumor progression. Remodeling of the ECM by collagenolytic enzymes such as MMP1, MMP8, MMP13, or the membranebound MT1-MMP as well as by other membrane-anchored proteases is required for invasion and recruitment of novel blood vessels. However, the multiple roles of the MMPs do not all fit into a simple pattern. Despite the pro-tumorigenic function of certain metalloproteinases, recent studies have shown that other members of these families, such as MMP8 or MMP11, have a protective role against tumor growth and metastasis in animal models. These studies have been further expanded by large-scale genomic analysis, revealing that the genes encoding metalloproteinases, such as MMP8, MMP27, ADAM7, and ADAM29, are recurrently mutated in specific tumors, while several ADAMTSs are epigenetically silenced in different cancers. The importance of these proteases in modifying the tumor microenvironment highlights the need for a deeper understanding of how stroma cells and the ECM can modulate tumor progression.

Matrix metalloproteinases and tumor metastasis

Cancer and Metastasis Reviews, 2006

Functions of individual matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) differentially expressed by tumor cells and stromal cells, are finely regulated by their spatial as well as temporal interactions with distinct cellular and extracellular components of the tumor microenvironment and also distant pre-metastatic sites. Certain aspects of MMP involvement in tumor metastasis such as tumor-induced angiogenesis, tumor invasion, and establishment of metastatic foci at the secondary site, have received extensive attention that resulted in an overwhelming amount of experimental and observational data in favor of critical roles of MMPs in these processes. In particular, dependency of tumor angiogenesis on the activity of MMPs, especially that of MMP-9, renders this step possibly the most effective target of synthetic MMP inhibitors. MMP functioning in other stages of metastasis, including the escape of individual tumor cells from the primary tumor, their intravasation, survival in circulation, and extravasation at the secondary site, have not yet received enough consideration, resulting in insufficient or controversial data. The major pieces of evidence that are most compelling and clearly determine the role and involvement of MMPs in the metastatic cascade are provided by molecular genetic studies employing knock-out or transgenic animals and tumor cell lines, modified to overexpress or downregulate a specific MMP. Findings from all of these studies implicate different functional mechanisms for both tumor and stromal MMPs during distinct steps of the metastatic cascade and indicate that MMPs can exhibit pro-metastatic as well as anti-metastatic roles depending on their nature and the experimental setting. This dual function of individual MMPs in metastasis has become a major focus of this review.

Matrix metalloproteinases at cancer tumor–host interface

Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, 2008

The increasing diversity in both substrates and functions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) makes these enzymes central regulators in the complex tumor ecosystem composed of cancer cells and their microenvironment. In the majority of cancers, membrane-associated and extracellular proteases are mainly produced by host cells including inflammatory cells, endothelial cells, pericytes and fibroblasts. Recent data based on in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the relevance of these enzymes in multiple processes controlling cancer growth, angiogenesis and metastatic dissemination. This review will present the emerging MMP-related features of cancer cells and host cells.

Insights Into the Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Cancer and its Various Therapeutic Aspects: A Review

Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases that regulate the turnover of extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Gross and La Piere discovered MMPs in 1962 during an experiment on tissue samples from a tadpole’s tail. Several subtypes of MMPs have been identified, depending on their substrate specificity and localization. MMPs are involved as essential molecules in multiple and diverse physiological processes, such as reproduction, embryonic development, bone remodeling, tissue repair, and regulation of inflammatory processes. Its activity is controlled at various levels such as at transcription level, pro-peptide activation level and by the activity of a family of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase, endogenous inhibitors of MMPs. Cancer metastasis, which is the spread of a tumor to a distant site, is a complex process that is responsible for the majority of cancer-related death It is considered to be an indicator of cancer metastasis. During metastasis, t...

Proteases in invasion: matrix metalloproteinases

Seminars in Cancer Biology, 2001

The role of proteases in general, and the matrix metalloproteinases in particular, in tumor invasion and metastasis is well established. However, the classic view that these enzymes simply provide a mechanism for the breakdown of connective tissue barriers has been challenged. This overview summarizes recent evidence to support the changing view of the role of matrix metalloproteinases in cancer progression. First we briefly review the central role of cell invasion in cancer progression and also the matrix metalloproteinase family members. We then focus on the emerging roles for these enzymes in cancer progression, including the role of matrix metalloproteinases in cell proliferation and release of growth factors, cell migration and in modification of the extracellular matrix to reveal cryptic sites that alter cell behaviour.