Recent advances in inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases for cancer therapy.
Since matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been found to be involved in various diseases, their inhibitors (MMPIs) should be useful as multipotential drugs. Several MMPs are thought to be involved with various diseases in different ways. This review focuses on MMPIs for cancer therapy. MMPIs are expected to be potent antitumor agents with a novel mechanism differing from that of ordinary cytotoxic agents. Numerous studies have been conducted to develop MMPIs for practical use in cancer therapy and some are now in clinical or preclinical stages.
Sugita
K
K
Shionogi Research Laboratories, 5-chome Sagishu, Osaka 553-0002, Japan. kenji.sugita@shionogi.co.jp