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Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts
Published on: July 25, 2020
Procathepsin D and cancer: From molecular biology to clinical applications
Vaclav Vetvicka1, Aruna Vashishta, Sujata Saraswat-Ohri
1Vaclav Vetvicka, Jana Vetvickova, Department of Pathology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, United States.
Abstract:
Procathepsin D (pCD) is overexpressed and secreted by cells of various tumor types including breast and lung carcinomas. pCD affects multiple features of tumor cells including proliferation, invasion, metastases and apoptosis. Several laboratories have previously shown that the mitogenic effect of pCD on cancer cells is mediated via its propeptide part (APpCD). However, the exact mechanism of how pCD affects cancer cells has not been identified. Recent observations have also revealed the possible use of pCD/APpcD as a marker of cancer progression. The purpose of this review is to summarize the three major potentials of pCD-tumor marker, potential drug, and screening agent.
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