Proprotein convertases: Key players in inflammation-related malignancies and metastasis

Cancer Lett. 2020 Mar 31:473:50-61. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.12.027. Epub 2019 Dec 30.

Abstract

Many cancers occur from locations of inflammation due to chronic irritation and/or infection. Tumor microenvironment contains various different inflammatory cells and mediators that orchestrate diverse neoplastic processes, including proliferation, survival, adhesion and migration. In parallel, tumor cells have adapted some of the signaling molecules used by inflammatory cells, such as selectins and chemokines as well as their receptors for invasion, extravasation and subsequently metastasis. Expression and/or activation of the majority of these molecules is mediated by the proprotein convertases (PCs); proteases expressed by both tumor cells and inflammatory cells. This review analyzes the potential role of these enzymatic system in inflammation-associated cancer impacting on the malignant and metastatic potential of cancer cells, describing the possible use of PCs as a new anti-inflammatory therapeutic approach to tumor progression and metastasis.

Keywords: Metastasis; Protein maturation; Substrates; α1-PDX.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / therapeutic use
  • Carcinogenesis / drug effects
  • Carcinogenesis / immunology*
  • Chemokines / immunology
  • Chemokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Progression
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / immunology*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / prevention & control
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Proprotein Convertases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proprotein Convertases / metabolism*
  • Selectins / immunology
  • Selectins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Chemokines
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Selectins
  • Proprotein Convertases