Urokinase plasminogen activator system as a potential target for cancer therapy

Author:

Mekkawy Ahmed H1,Morris David L1,Pourgholami Mohammad H2

Affiliation:

1. University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

2. Cancer Research Laboratories, University of New South Wales, Department of Surgery, St George Hospital (SESIAHS), Sydney, NSW 2217, Australia.

Abstract

Proteolysis of extracellular matrix (ECM) and basement membrane is an essential mechanism used by cancer cells for their invasion and metastasis. The ECM proteinases are divided into three groups: metalloproteinases, cysteine proteinases and serine proteinases. The urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) system is one of the serine proteinase systems involved in ECM degradation. Members of this system, including uPA and its receptor (uPAR), are overexpressed in several malignant tumors. This system plays a major role in adhesion, migration, invasion and metastasis of cancer cells, thus making it an important target for anticancer drug therapy. Several strategies, including the use of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides, ribozymes, DNAzyme, RNAi, uPA inhibitors, soluble uPAR, catalytically inactive uPA fragments, synthetic peptides and synthetic hybrids are under study, as they interfere with the expression and/or activity of uPA or uPAR in tumor cells. Herein, we discuss the various pharmaceutical strategies under investigation to combat the uPA activity in cancer.

Publisher

Future Medicine Ltd

Subject

Cancer Research,Oncology,General Medicine

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