Matrix metalloproteinases in cancer invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of proteinases that play an i mportant role in cancer as well as in numerous other diseases. In this arti cle, we summarize the current views on the role of MMPs in cancer with resp ect to invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. A positive correlation betwee n tumor progression and the expression of multiple MMP family members in tu mor tissues has been demonstrated in numerous human and animal studies. It has been assumed that cancer cells are responsible for producing the MMPs i n human tumors. However, recent evidence suggests that tumor cells have doc king sites that bind stromal-cell-secreted MMPs. Furthermore, the role of M MPs produced by endothelial cells, especially MMP-2 and MT1-MMP, appear to be crucial for tumor angiogenesis, which is a requirement for cancer growth and dissemination.