title: Cathepsin B as a cancer target.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cathepsin B is of significant importance to cancer therapy as it is involved in various pathologies and oncogenic processes in humans. Numerous studies have shown that abnormal regulation of cathepsin B overexpression is correlated with invasive and metastatic phenotypes in cancers. Cathepsin B is normally associated with the lysosomes involved in autophagy and immune response, but its aberrant expression has been shown to lead to cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review highlights the oncogenic role of cathepsin B, discusses the regulation of cathepsin B in light of oncogenesis, discusses the role of cathepsin B as a signaling molecule, and highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting cathepsin B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Targeting cathepsin B alone does not appear to abolish tumor growth, and this is probably because cathepsin B appears to have diverse functions and influence numerous pathways. It is not clear whether global suppression of cathepsin B activity or expression would produce unintended effects or cause the activation or suppression of unwanted pathways. A localized approach for targeting the expression of cathepsin B would be more relevant. Moreover, a combination of targeting cathepsin B with other relevant oncogenic molecules has significant therapeutic potential.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology and Neurosurgery, Peoria, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Gondi
authors.forename: Jasti S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002401:Cathepsin B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002401:Cathepsin B