The anti-metastatic potential of Lysosomal Enzyme Receptor Protein (LERP)
Abstract
This project deals with the multifunctional protein mannose 6-phosphate/IGF-II receptor (M6P/IGF2R) and its relative, lysosomal enzyme receptor protein (LERP). M6P/IGF2R is an important receptor for proteinases and growth factors. Proteinases as well as growth factors play a central role in tumour metastasis. The formation of metastases worsens the clinical prognosis for cancer patients dramatically. During metastasis, tumour cells have to penetrate different tissue barriers and then migrate to distant sites within the body, which requires the presence of proteinases and growth factors in the vicinity of the cells. Abrogation of proteinase secretion into the pericellular space as well as inhibition of growth factor-induced cellular migration represent attractive approaches for the prevention of tumour metastasis. The anti-metastatic potential of M6P/IGF2R could be exploited for these purposes. M6P/IGF2R has the capacity to prevent important steps during the formation of metastases. This project aims to establish whether the M6P/IGF2R relative lysosomal enzyme receptor protein (LERP) shares these activities. The interactions of LERP with different proteinases (e.g. cathepsin D, cathepsin L) will also be investigated. The results of this study will improve our current understanding of the processes leading to tumour metastasis, which is very important for the development of novel cancer therapies.
Publikationen
Project staff
Lukas Mach
Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Lukas Mach
lukas.mach@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-94065, 94360
Project Leader
01.12.2007 - 31.12.2008