Cathepsin B promotes the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in mice
09.12.2011
Gopinathan A, Denicola GM, Frese KK, Cook N, Karreth FA, Mayerle J, Lerch MM, Reinheckel T, Tuveson DA.
Gut. 2012 Jun;61(6):877-84
The lysosomal protease cathepsin B is upregulated in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) and is of interest as a biomarker for this disease. This study examines the role of cathepsin B in the initiation, progression and metastasis of PDA in mice. Cathepsin B loss resulted in decreased proliferation in both preneoplasms and invasive carcinomas. The ablation of cathepsin B endows a significant survival advantage to mice with PDA, and liver metastases are decreased in cathepsin B null mice. These results confirm that cathepsin B plays an important role in the initiation and metastasis of PDA, and prompt the development of appropriate therapeutics.
