Proteolysis Inhibitors Fail to Halt Metastasis

The finding was reported in the January 20, 2003, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology.

Investigators from the University of Wuerzburg (Germany) treated fibrosarcoma and carcinoma cells with a series of inhibitors to prevent the proteolytic activity of MT1–matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), which normally allows the cancer cells to burrow through the extracellular matrix (ECM) and spread from the site of the original tumor. They found that the treated cancer cells changed shape, became rounded, and were able to squeeze through already existing gaps in the ECM by using an amoeba-like movement.

The authors concluded that to be successful in preventing metastasis, drug treatments against proteolysis-dependent movement must be supplemented with agents capable of stopping the amoeboid movement.




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University of Wuerzburg