Abstract
Procathepsin D (pCD) is overexpressed and secreted by cells of various tumor types including breast and lung carcinomas, affecting multiple features of tumor cells including proliferation, invasion, metastasis and apoptosis. As more and more attention has been focused on potential use of pCD in clinical practice, we devoted this paper to summarize the three major potentials of pCD — tumor marker, potential drug and screening agent. Despite more than 20 years of studies and numerous reports of the association between pCD level and tumor size, tumor grade, tumor aggressiveness, and incidence of metastasis, pCD is still not used as a marker of cancer development. This is due to problems in distinguishing between pCD expressed by cancer derived cells and normal tissue cells and in the exact measuring of its different molecular forms (pCD, single chain cathepsin D (CD) and two chain CD) in tumor tissue. Numerous studies demonstrated that pCD secreted from cancer cells affects multiple stages of tumor progression. Subsequent data showing that inhibition of pCD secretion from cancer cells can inhibit cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo suggested the possibility of using pCD suppression in clinical practice. A third possibility of using pCD in clinical practice is represented by the use of anti-pCD autoantibodies in screening cancer patients or in correlation with the level of these antibodies with the progress of cancer disease. Despite the fact that preliminary findings suggested such correlation, more detailed studies revealed significant setbacks.
Keywords: Antibodies, Aspartic, Autoantibodies, Breast, Cancer, Cathepsin D, Drug, Procathepsin D, Screening
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Procathepsin D as a Tumor Marker, Anti-Cancer Drug or Screening Agent
Volume: 12 Issue: 2
Author(s): Vaclav Vetvicka and Martin Fusek
Affiliation:
Keywords: Antibodies, Aspartic, Autoantibodies, Breast, Cancer, Cathepsin D, Drug, Procathepsin D, Screening
Abstract: Procathepsin D (pCD) is overexpressed and secreted by cells of various tumor types including breast and lung carcinomas, affecting multiple features of tumor cells including proliferation, invasion, metastasis and apoptosis. As more and more attention has been focused on potential use of pCD in clinical practice, we devoted this paper to summarize the three major potentials of pCD — tumor marker, potential drug and screening agent. Despite more than 20 years of studies and numerous reports of the association between pCD level and tumor size, tumor grade, tumor aggressiveness, and incidence of metastasis, pCD is still not used as a marker of cancer development. This is due to problems in distinguishing between pCD expressed by cancer derived cells and normal tissue cells and in the exact measuring of its different molecular forms (pCD, single chain cathepsin D (CD) and two chain CD) in tumor tissue. Numerous studies demonstrated that pCD secreted from cancer cells affects multiple stages of tumor progression. Subsequent data showing that inhibition of pCD secretion from cancer cells can inhibit cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo suggested the possibility of using pCD suppression in clinical practice. A third possibility of using pCD in clinical practice is represented by the use of anti-pCD autoantibodies in screening cancer patients or in correlation with the level of these antibodies with the progress of cancer disease. Despite the fact that preliminary findings suggested such correlation, more detailed studies revealed significant setbacks.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Vetvicka Vaclav and Fusek Martin, Procathepsin D as a Tumor Marker, Anti-Cancer Drug or Screening Agent, Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2012; 12 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152012799014904
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152012799014904 |
Print ISSN 1871-5206 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5992 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Induction of cell death in cancer cells by modulating telomerase activity using small molecule drugs
Telomeres are distinctive but short stretches present at the corners of chromosomes and aid in stabilizing chromosomal makeup. Resynthesis of telomeres supported by the activity of reverse transcriptase ribonucleoprotein complex telomerase. There is no any telomerase activity in human somatic cells, but the stem cells and germ cells undergone telomerase ...read more
Role of natural compounds as anti anti-cancer agents
Cancer is considered the leading cause of worldwide mortality, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2022. Cancer outcome can be improved through an appropriate screening and early detection and through an efficient clinical treatment. Chemotherapy remains an important approach in treatment o f several types of cancers, even though ...read more
Signaling and enzymatic modulators in cancer treatment
Cancer accounts for nearly 10 million deaths in 2022 and is considered the leading cause of worldwide mortality. Cancer outcome can be improved through an appropriate screening and early detection and through an efficient clinical treatment. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery are the most important approach for the treatment of several ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Clinical Pharmacology of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: A Review
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Copper Compounds in Cancer Chemotherapy
Current Medicinal Chemistry Antagonists of IAP Proteins: Novel Anti-Tumor Agents
Current Medicinal Chemistry Emerging Strategies and Challenges for Controlled Delivery of Taxanes: A Comprehensive Review
Current Drug Metabolism Recent Developments in Targeting Bromodomain and Extra Terminal Domain Proteins for Cancer Therapeutics
Current Medicinal Chemistry Glutathione Transferases: Emerging Multidisciplinary Tools in Red and Green Biotechnology
Recent Patents on Biotechnology A Case of Neurosarcoidosis Mimicking Brain Tumor
Current Medical Imaging Editorial [Hot topic: Current Formulations and Techniques of Drug/gene Delivery for Targeted Therapy and Tissue Engineering (Executive Editors: Chi-Hwa Wang and Sudhir H. Ranganath)]
Current Pharmaceutical Design G-Protein Signaling, Lipid Rafts and the Possible Sites of Action for the Antidepressant Effects of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Smad-Signaling in Mammary Gland Development and Tumorigenesis
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Nucleic Acid Aptamers Against Protein Kinases
Current Medicinal Chemistry Resveratrol in Medicinal Chemistry: A Critical Review of its Pharmacokinetics, Drug-Delivery, and Membrane Interactions
Current Medicinal Chemistry Patents Review in siRNA Delivery for Pulmonary Disorders
Recent Patents on Drug Delivery & Formulation Rho GTPase Activating Proteins in Cancer Phenotypes
Current Protein & Peptide Science The Dark Side of Stem Cells: Triggering Cancer Progression by Cell Fusion
Current Molecular Medicine Modern Treatments for Gliomas Improve Outcome
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews Serum Carboxypeptidase N1 Serves as a Potential Biomarker Complementing CA15-3 for Breast Cancer
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Microemulsions and Nanoemulsions for Targeted Drug Delivery to the Brain
Current Nanoscience Turning Tumor-Promoting Copper into an Anti-Cancer Weapon via High-Throughput Chemistry
Current Medicinal Chemistry Role of microRNAs in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Pathogenesis
Current Medicinal Chemistry