Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Anticancer Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy with Lung Cancer-Targeted Nanoparticles
08:03

Anticancer Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy with Lung Cancer-Targeted Nanoparticles

Published on: December 1, 2016

9.5K

Cysteine cathepsins as a prospective target for anticancer therapies-current progress and prospects

Aneta Pogorzelska1, Beata Żołnowska1, Rafał Bartoszewski2

  • 1Department of Organic Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Hallera 107, 80-416 Gdansk, Poland.

Biochimie
|June 6, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Cysteine cathepsins (CTS) are upregulated in cancer, impacting tumor growth and metastasis. Inhibiting CTS offers a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Cysteine cathepsins (CTS) are crucial enzymes in physiological and pathological processes.
  • CTS are significantly upregulated in various cancer types, yet are under-explored as therapeutic targets compared to other proteases.
  • Aberrant secretion of CTS in tumor cells influences cancer growth, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and immune responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted role of cysteine cathepsins in cancer.
  • To explore the potential of CTS inhibition as a cancer therapy strategy.
  • To illustrate how CTS inhibitors impact neoplastic progression.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on cysteine cathepsins and cancer.
  • Analysis of studies on CTS involvement in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis.
  • Examination of the role of natural CTS inhibitors (cystatins) in cancer.

Main Results:

  • Cysteine cathepsins play a significant role in tumor progression, including angiogenesis, apoptosis, and immune evasion.
  • Downregulation of endogenous CTS inhibitors like cystatins is observed in many cancers.
  • Inhibition of CTS presents a viable therapeutic avenue for managing neoplastic diseases.

Conclusions:

  • Cysteine cathepsins are key players in carcinogenesis and represent attractive targets for novel cancer therapies.
  • Targeting CTS, potentially through the use of specific inhibitors, could offer a new strategy to combat cancer progression.
  • Further research into CTS and their inhibitors is warranted to develop effective cancer treatments.
Keywords:
Anticancer therapiesCathepsinsCystatinsCysteine cathepsinsInhibitors

More Related Videos

Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation09:49

Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation

Published on: October 31, 2019

23.2K
Targeting Cysteine Thiols for in Vitro Site-specific Glycosylation of Recombinant Proteins11:25

Targeting Cysteine Thiols for in Vitro Site-specific Glycosylation of Recombinant Proteins

Published on: October 4, 2017

7.1K

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
8.9K
Tumor Progression02:07

Tumor Progression

Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
7.5K
Gene Therapy00:59

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is a technique where a gene is inserted into a person’s cells to prevent or treat a serious disease. The added gene may be a healthy version of the gene that is mutated in the patient, or it could be a different gene that inactivates or compensates for the patient’s disease-causing gene. For example, in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) due to a mutation in the gene for the enzyme adenosine deaminase, a functioning version of the gene can be...
27.7K
Electrical Current01:10

Electrical Current

Electrical current is defined as the rate at which charge flows. When there is a large current present, such as that used to run a refrigerator, a large amount of charge moves through the wire in a small amount of time. If the current is small, such as that used to operate a handheld calculator, a small amount of charge moves through the circuit over a long period of time. The SI unit for current is the ampere (A), named for the French physicist André-Marie Ampère (1775–1836).
7.2K
Group Therapy01:26

Group Therapy

Group therapy is a sociocultural approach to psychological treatment, where individuals with shared psychological challenges come together under the guidance of a mental health professional. This therapeutic modality offers unique opportunities for individuals to connect, share, and grow within the context of a supportive group. By fostering mutual understanding and collaboration, group therapy can address a range of psychological concerns effectively, often complementing or surpassing the...
451
Current Density01:21

Current Density

The total amount of current flowing through one unit value of a cross-sectional area is referred to as current density. If the current flow is uniform, the amount of current flowing through a conductor is the same at all points along the conductor, even if the conductor area varies. The current density consists of the local magnitude and direction of the charge flow, which varies from point to point. Current density is measured in amperes per meter square, and direction is defined as the net...
5.2K