title: Epithelial carcinogenesis: dynamic interplay between neoplastic cells and their microenvironment.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA. coussens@cc.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Léon C L
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: van Kempen
authors.forename: Jin-Sae
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dehne
authors.forename: Jake
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dylan R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Coussens
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9