Epithelial carcinogenesis: dynamic interplay between neoplastic cells and their microenvironment.
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have long been thought of as critical factors regulating matrix degradation associated with cell invasion into ectopic tissue compartments during primary tumor growth and metastasis. One member of the MMP family historically linked to these invasive processes is MMP-9/gelatinase B. By studying a transgenic mouse model of de novo epithelial carcinogenesis, new roles for MMP-9 have emerged that broaden the view of its functional contribution to malignant progression. The combined implication of these studies suggest that MMP-9 functionally contributes to cancer development; however, its major regulatory role may be in its ability to activate poorly diffusible and/or matrix-sequestered growth factors that regulate epithelial and/or endothelial cell growth as opposed to regulating cellular invasion across basement membranes.
van Kempen
Léon C L
LC
Cancer Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA. coussens@cc.ucsf.edu
Rhee
Jin-Sae
JS
Dehne
Kerstin
K
Lee
Jake
J
Edwards
Dylan R
DR
Coussens
Lisa M
LM
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D002455:Cell Division; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism
D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9