[Pro-cathepsin D can activate in vitro pro-cathepsin B secreted by ovarian cancers].

Abstract

A precursor form of cathepsin B (Mr 45-47 kd) was purified from ascitic fluids of patients with ovarian adenocarcinomas. Following pepsin activation, this precursor produced a 33 kd cathepsin B-like proteinase closely related to lysosomal cathepsin B. A similar activation was found using the 52 kd pro-cathepsin D secreted by the MCF7 human breast cancer cells. This activation was a time, dose and pH dependent process. These results suggest that the 52 kd pro-cathepsin D may be involved in the early steps of the "metastatic cascade", activating pro-cathepsin B in an acidic environment.

• Authors: M Pagano, F Capony, H Rochefort
• Journal: Comptes rendus de l'Academie des sciences. Serie III, Sciences de la vie (C R Acad Sci III) Vol. 309 Issue 1 Pg. 7-12 ( 1989) ISSN: 0764-4469 [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: La pro-cathepsine D peut activer in vitro la pro-cathepsine B sécrétée par les cancers ovariens.
• PMID: 2500229 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Enzyme Precursors
• Cathepsin B
• Cathepsin D

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (metabolism)
• Cathepsin B (metabolism)
• Cathepsin D (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Enzyme Precursors (administration & dosage, metabolism, pharmacology)
• Female
• Humans
• Molecular Weight
• Ovarian Neoplasms (metabolism)
• Time Factors