[Proteases and breast carcinoma]

Proteasic systems are largely incriminated in tumoral invasion in breast carcinomas. They are numerous and ranged in three classes. Serine-proteinases include plasmin, elastases, thrombin and trypsine which after activation, attack some structural glycoproteins and elastin. Plasmin system is involved more in stromal invasion than in the disruption of basement membranes. Plasminogen activators do not seem to come under the influence of hormonal factors. The action of these various enzymes is limited by more or less specific anti-proteases. The activity of elastases is parallel to the abundance of elastin in the stroma. The second group is composed of cystein-proteinases. Cathepsin B has a lysosomial origin and represents the most active system. Invasive territories of mammary carcinomas contain this enzyme which can degrade collagens and activate collagenases. Metallo-proteinases with collagenases, constitute the most important proteasic system in the degradation of extra-cellular matrix. Physicochemical properties of collagenases, ionic and cellular environment condition their activity which is also enzyme dependent (activation by plasmin, cathepsin B...) Type IV collagenase activity is related to the invasive and metastatic ability of tumor cells. All these enzymatic productions are closely linked and intermittent, and moreover limited by seric and tissular anti-proteinases.