title: Progelatinase A activation during tumor cell invasion.
abstract: The mechanisms of tumor cell invasion appear to be the same as those of normal cells that invade. Thus malignancy can be defined as a defect in the regulation of a predefined cellular program of invasion. Gelatinase A (MMP-2) has been shown to contribute to the invasive phenotype. Recent work demonstrates that activation of progelatinase A is a key event in the acquisition of malignant potential. This brief report reviews some recent findings on the cellular mechanism of progelatinase A activation and the role of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 in this process.
authors.affiliation: Extracellular Matrix Pathology Section, Bethesda, Md 20892, USA.
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Stetler-Stevenson
mesh_terms: D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D018093:Gelatinases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C069860:progelatinase