Review
Nature Reviews Cancer 2, 161-174 (March 2002) | doi:10.1038/nrc745
New functions for the matrix metalloproteinases in cancer progression
Mikala Egeblad1 & Zena Werb1 About the authors
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have long been associated with cancer-cell invasion and metastasis. This provided the rationale for clinical trials of MMP inhibitors, unfortunately with disappointing results. We now know, however, that the MMPs have functions other than promotion of invasion, have substrates other than components of the extracellular matrix, and that they function before invasion in the development of cancer. With this knowledge in hand, can we rethink the use of MMP inhibitors in the clinic?
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Author affiliations
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Department of Anatomy, University of California at San Francisco, Box 0452, 513 Parnassus, San Francisco, California 94143-0452, USA.
Email: egeblad@itsa.ucsf.edu; Email: zena@itsa.ucsf.edu
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