The role of cathepsins and the plasminogen activator/inhibitor system in colorectal cancer

Cysteine proteases [Cathepsin B and L (CATB, CATL)] and the serine protease urokinase type plasminogen activator (UPA) with its inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) are thought to play an important part in colorectal cancer invasion and metastasis. To our knowledge, however, cathepsins and plasminogen activator/inhibitor system have not been evaluated in the same study. The authors using the ELISA method, determined the protease antigen concentrations in colorectal cancer tissue and in normal tissue distant from tumour, in 35 patients with colorectal cancer. They also evaluated the relationship that these proteases may have with the major histomorphological parameters and tumour staging. Significantly higher antigen levels were found: 1. in cancerous tissue vs. tumour free tissue (CATB, CATL, UPA, PAI-1); in colorectal cancer with vs. without metastasis (CATB, CATL, UPA, PAI-1); 3. in poorly vs. well differentiated tumours (CATB, UPA, PAI-1); 4. in advanced Dukes' stages (CATB, UPA, PAI-1). The simultaneous activation of cathepsins and plasminogen activator/inhibitor system in colorectal cancer confirms their role in colorectal tumor biology and particularly in the process of invasion and metastasis. Our results suggest the possible prognostic impact of these proteases in colorectal cancer.