6533b830fe1ef96bd12965c6

RESEARCH PRODUCT

On the role of cystatin C in cancer progression

Marilena CrescimannoGaetano LetoCarla Flandina

subject

0301 basic medicineMetastasiCysteine proteinaseGeneral Biochemistry Genetics and Molecular BiologyCysteine Proteinase Inhibitorslaw.inventionMetastasisCathepsin03 medical and health sciences0302 clinical medicinelawNeoplasmsMedicineAnimalsHumansCystGeneral Pharmacology Toxicology and PharmaceuticsNeoplasm MetastasisCystatin CCancerCathepsinbiologybusiness.industryCancerProteinase inhibitorsGeneral Medicinemedicine.disease030104 developmental biologyCystatin C030220 oncology & carcinogenesisCancer researchbiology.proteinDisease ProgressionSettore BIO/14 - FarmacologiaSuppressorbusinessFunction (biology)

description

Cystatin C (Cyst C) is an endogenous inhibitor of lysosomal cysteine proteinases, which has been shown to play a role in several normal and pathological processes. Interestingly, a growing number of experimental and clinical studies suggest that this inhibitor also appears to be implicated in the malignant progression of various human tumors. However, the role of Cyst C in malignant diseases is still controversial as these studies have highlighted that this protein may function either as tumor suppressor or tumor promoter. The specific mechanisms underlying these opposing effects at present remain murky and are the subject of many current investigations. On the other hand, a complete knowledge of these mechanisms is of clinical interest in order to develop new, effective antitumor treatments based on the appropriate use of natural and/or synthetic cysteine proteinase inhibitors. This paper discusses the current findings regarding the role of Cyst C in cancer progression and the clinical implications emerging from these studies.

10.1016/j.lfs.2018.04.013http://hdl.handle.net/10447/287970