Metallothioneins and cancer.
Metallothioneins (MTs) are low molecular, cysteine-rich proteins that have naturally-occurring Zn(2+) in both clusters. They may serve as a reservoir of metals for synthesis of apoenzymes and zinc-finger transcription regulators. MTs are also involved with several important proteins e.g. p53, NF-kappaB, PKCl, and GTPase Rab3A. New biological roles for these proteins have been identified including those needed in the carcinogenic process. However, their use as a predictive marker remains controversial. Several reports have disclosed MTs expression as a prognostic factor for tumor progression and drug resistance in a variety of malignancies particularly breast, prostatic, ovarial, head and neck, non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, and soft tissue sarcoma. The role of MTs as a tumor disease marker or as a cause of resistance in cancer treatment is reviewed and discussed. Moreover, we describe some analytical methods that were developed to detect MTs.
Eckschlager
Tomas
T
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Zemedelska 1, Brno CZ-613 00, Czech Republic.
Adam
Vojtech
V
Hrabeta
Jan
J
Figova
Katarina
K
Kizek
Rene
R
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D054697:Cytostatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D054697:Cytostatic Agents; D008668:Metallothionein