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Updated: May 22, 2026

Monitoring Neutrophil Elastase and Cathepsin G Activity in Human Sputum Samples
Published on: May 21, 2021
New insights into procathepsin D in pathological and physiological conditions
Sujata Saraswat-Ohri1, Vaclav Vetvicka
1Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Centre, Department of Neurological Surgery, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
Abstract:
Procathepsin D is a major glycoprotein that is secreted from numerous types of cancer cells including breast, lung and prostrate carcinomas. It affects multiple stages of tumorigenesis that include proliferation, invasion, metastasis and apoptosis. Previous studies showed that the mitogenic effect of procathepsin D on cancer cells was mediated through its propeptide or activation peptide. Recent studies have also implicated the possible use of procathepsin D/activation peptide as a marker of cancer progression. Considering the broad range of functions of procathepsin D, the present review summarizes the three major potentials of procathepsin D-cancer progression, tumor marker and wound healing.
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