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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Characterization of Cell Membrane Extensions and Studying Their Roles in Cancer Cell Adhesion Dynamics
Published on: March 26, 2018
Alterations and role of human cathepsin D in cancer metastasis
H Rochefort1, E Liaudet, M Garcia
1Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, (U. 148), Montpellier, France.
Abstract:
Cathepsin D (Cath D) overexpression in breast cancer cells is associated with increased risk of metastasis in patients according to several clinical studies. The amino acid sequence of Cath D in two breast cancer cell lines was normal, but glycosylation appears to be different with more acidic isoforms. Transfection of a human cDNA Cath D expression vector increases the metastatic potential of 3Y1-Ad12 embryonic rat tumorigenic cells when intravenously injected into nude mide. The mechanism of Cath-D-induced metastasis seems to require maturation of the proenzyme, mostly in large acidic compartments identified as phagosomes. Cath D is mitogenic in different cell types, and different substrates (growth inhibitors, precursors of growth factors, etc.) are proposed to mediate this activity.
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