Cathepsins mediate tumor metastasis

Abstract

Cathepsins are highly expressed in various human cancers, associated with tumor metastasis. It is superfamily, concluding A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, L, K, O, S, V, and W family members. As a group of lysosomal proteinases or endopeptidases, each member has a different function, playing different roles in distinct tumorigenic processes such as proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and invasion. Cathepsins belong to a diverse number of enzyme subtypes, including cysteine proteases, serine proteases and aspartic proteases. The contribution of cathepsins to invasion in human cancers is well documented, although the precise mechanisms by which cathepsins exert their effects are still not clear. In the present review, the role of cathepsin family members in cancer is discussed.

Keywords: Cathepsin, Tumor, Metastasis, Mechanism

Core tip: Cathepsins play an important role in tumor metastasis, as a superfamily, each member experts different function in tumor metastatic process. In the present, we summarized the roles of cathepsin family members and analyzed their mechanism in tumor metastasis. These provide a novel insight in tumor metastasis.