Analysis of tumour- and stroma-supplied proteolytic networks reveals a brain-metastasis-promoting role for cathepsin S.

ABSTRACT: Metastasis remains the most common cause of death in most cancers, with limited therapies for combating disseminated disease. While the primary tumour microenvironment is an important regulator of cancer progression, it is less well understood how different tissue environments influence metastasis. We analysed tumour-stroma interactions that modulate organ tropism of brain, bone and lung metastasis in xenograft models. We identified a number of potential modulators of site-specific metastasis, including cathepsin S as a regulator of breast-to-brain metastasis. High cathepsin S expression at the primary site correlated with decreased brain metastasis-free survival in breast cancer patients. Both macrophages and tumour cells produce cathepsin S, and only the combined depletion significantly

SUBMITTER: Sevenich L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4249762 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature