Heparanase-Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody (mAb A54) Attenuates Tumor Growth and Metastasis.

ABSTRACT: Heparanase is the only human enzyme responsible for heparan sulfate (HS) breakdown, an activity that remodels the extracellular matrix (ECM) and strongly drives cancer metastasis and angiogenesis. Compelling evidence implies that heparanase promotes essentially all aspects of the tumorigenic process, namely, tumor initiation, vascularization, growth, metastasis, and chemoresistance. A key mechanism by which heparanase accelerates cancer progression is by enabling the release and bioavailability of HS-bound growth factors, chemokines, and cytokines, residing in the tumor microenvironment and supporting tumor growth and metastasis. The currently available heparanase inhibitors are mostly HS/heparin-like compounds that lack specificity and exert multiple off-target side effects. To date, only

SUBMITTER: Barash U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12428753 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature