title: Lysosome: the cell's 'suicidal bag' as a promising cancer target.
abstract: Lysosomes are organelles with an acidic lumen containing hydrolases, whose role is to break down macromolecules into their subunits. Cathepsins, which are lysosomal proteases, have important roles in cancer. Enhanced cathepsin activity out of the cell is linked to tumor growth, whereas such activity inside the cell is linked to tumor growth inhibition. Recently published studies on the opposing roles of cathepsin in cancer have investigated their potential as biochemical and nanotechnological therapeutic targets.
authors: Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Athens Medical School, 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors: Melina-Theoni
authors: MT
authors: Gyparaki
authors: Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Athens Medical School, 11527 Athens, Greece. Electronic address: papavas@med.uoa.gr.
authors: Athanasios G
authors: AG
authors: Papavassiliou
mesh_terms: D002403:Cathepsins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D002403:Cathepsins
keywords: cancer; cathepsin; lysosome; membrane; permeabilization; target