CELL BIOLOGIC FACTORS AND CANCER SPREAD

There is an increasing body of literature linking expression of cell b iologic factors such as proteases and bioactive peptides with tumor ma lignancy. Cancer cells and/or the surrounding stromal cells produce an d secrete a series of different factors which may facilitate tumor cel l invasion and subsequent metastasis. Several reviews that cover the l iterature on the role of these factors are available. Therefore in thi s report, we focus on the work in our own laboratories. We will review our previous studies of five cell biologic factors which are differen tially involved in cancer progression, including urokinase, tissue-typ e plasminogen activator, polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase, group I I phospholipase A(2), and endothelin-1.