Itoh Yoshifumi, Nagase Hideaki
Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, 1 Aspenlea Road, Hammersmith, London W6 8LH, U.K.
Essays Biochem. 2002;38:21-36. doi: 10.1042/bse0380021.
The extracellular matrix (ECM) holds cells together and maintains the three-dimensional structure of the body. It also plays critical roles in cell growth, differentiation, survival and motility. For a tumour cell to metastasize from the primary tumour to other organs, it must locally degrade ECM components that are the physical barriers for cell migration. The key enzymes responsible for ECM breakdown are matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). To date, 23 MMP genes have been identified in humans and many are implicated in cancer. ECM degradation by MMPs not only enhances tumour invasion, but also affects tumour cell behaviour and leads to cancer progression. This review highlights recent developments with regard to the cellular and molecular mechanisms of MMPs that influence tumour cell growth, invasion and metastasis.
细胞外基质（ECM）将细胞聚集在一起，并维持身体的三维结构。它在细胞生长、分化、存活和运动中也起着关键作用。肿瘤细胞要从原发肿瘤转移到其他器官，就必须局部降解作为细胞迁移物理屏障的ECM成分。负责ECM分解的关键酶是基质金属蛋白酶（MMPs）。迄今为止，已在人类中鉴定出23个MMP基因，其中许多与癌症有关。MMPs介导的ECM降解不仅增强肿瘤侵袭，还影响肿瘤细胞行为并导致癌症进展。本综述重点介绍了MMPs影响肿瘤细胞生长、侵袭和转移的细胞及分子机制的最新进展。
