Abstract
Cathepsin B, which was originally found to be a lysosomal cysteine protease, is also an important matrix protease. In this study, we investigated the expression of cathepsin B and cystatin C, the strongest inhibitor of cathepsin B, and measured the relative amounts of each in human breast cancer tissues. Cystatin C expression relative to cathepsin B expression was found to be decreased. This finding could be associated with the looseness of cancerous interstitial tissue, which might play a role in cancer invasion and metastasis. This report documents the first simultaneous investigation of cathepsin B and cystatin C in breast cancer tissues.
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Received: February 23, 2000 / Accepted: November 20, 2000
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Yano, M., Hirai, K., Naito, Z. et al. Expression of Cathepsin B and Cystatin C in Human Breast Cancer. Surg Today 31, 385–389 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s005950170126
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s005950170126