title: Cathepsin L, target in cancer treatment?
abstract: Cathepsin L, a cysteine protease, is considered to be a potential therapeutic target in cancer treatment. Proteases are involved in the development and progression of cancer. Inhibition of activity of specific proteases may slow down cancer progression. In this review, we evaluate recent studies on the inhibition of cathepsin L in cancer. The effects of cathepsin L inhibition as a monotherapy on apoptosis and angiogenesis in cancer are ambiguous. Cathepsin L inhibition seems to reduce invasion and metastasis, but there is concern that selective cathepsin L inhibition induces compensatory activity by other cathepsins. The combination of cathepsin L inhibition with conventional chemotherapy seems to be more promising and has yielded more consistent results. Future research should be focused on the mechanisms and effects of this combination therapy.
authors: Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Jacqueline.Lankelma@student.uva.nl
authors: Jacqueline M
authors: JM
authors: Lankelma
authors: Daniëlle M
authors: DM
authors: Voorend
authors: Temo
authors: T
authors: Barwari
authors: Joris
authors: J
authors: Koetsveld
authors: Anne H
authors: AH
authors: Van der Spek
authors: Alexander P N A
authors: AP
authors: De Porto
authors: Geeske
authors: G
authors: Van Rooijen
authors: Cornelis J F
authors: CJ
authors: Van Noorden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D056668:Cathepsin L / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C534281:CTSL protein, human; D056668:Cathepsin L