Activation of the epidermal growth factor signalling pathway by tissue plasminogen activator in pancreas cancer cells.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the major activator of plasminogen in plasma. This serine protease is overexpressed by exocrine pancreas tumour cells, where it promotes tumour cell proliferation, growth, and invasion. Here we have explored the signalling pathways used by tPA to activate the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells.

Methods

Transcriptional profiling on cDNA micro arrays was used to analyse the pattern of gene expression in response to tPA compared to the response to epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF). Results were confirmed using different biochemical assays in which specific kinase inhibitors or RNA interference were used.

Results

Transcriptional profiling showed that tPA modulates the expression o

SUBMITTER: Hurtado M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1954978 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature