Transforming Growth Factor-Beta and Urokinase Type Plasminogen Interplay in Cancer

Current Protein & Peptide Science
Juan F Santibanez, Jelena Krstic

Abstract

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is well recognized as playing a double role in tumor progression. Its antitumor role takes place in the early stages of cancer development, when TGF-β acts as a repressor of epithelial tumor growth. In advanced stages of cancer development, TGF-β has a tumor stimulating role, acting concomitantly with the increase of cancer cell migration and metastasis. One of the critical features of cancer cells is their ability to migrate and invade the surrounding tissues leading to metastases in different organs. Cancer cells that leave the tumor to infiltrate neighboring tissues and ultimately overtake a distant organ, need a complex and fine-regulated mechanism to move through the barrier imposed by the extracellular matrix (ECM). Therefore, cancer cells express a set of proteinases which are involved in the degradation and turnover of ECM. In particular, the urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA) and the uPA cell surface receptor play key cellular roles in the enhancement of cell malignance during tumor progression. In normal cells uPA system is finely regulated, while in tumor cells its expression and activity are dysregulated in a way to enhance cells' invasion capacity during tumor progres...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 17, 2021·Nature Chemical Biology·Thomas KryzaJohn D Hooper
Jul 27, 2021·The Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry : Official Journal of the Histochemistry Society·Anamarija HabičBarbara Breznik
Dec 4, 2020··Ammar Rasoul Mohammed RudhaZahraa Mohammed AL-Nafakh

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