Revisiting the biological roles of PAI2 (SERPINB2) in cancer

Authors

Darren Saunders, University of British Columbia
David Croucher, Cancer Research Program SydneyFollow
Sergei A. Lobov, University of WollongongFollow
Marie Ranson, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

23711

Publication Details

Croucher, D., Saunders, D., Lobov, S. A. and Ranson, M. (2008). Revisiting the biological roles of PAI2 (SERPINB2) in cancer. Nature Reviews Cancer, 8 (7), 535-545.

Abstract

Tumour expression of the urokinase plasminogen activator correlates with invasive capacity. Consequently, inhibition of this serine protease by physiological inhibitors should decrease invasion and metastasis. However, of the two main urokinase inhibitors, high tumour levels of the type-1 inhibitor actually promote tumour progression, whereas high levels of the type-2 inhibitor decrease tumour growth and metastasis. We propose that the basis of this apparently paradoxical action of two similar serine protease inhibitors lies in key structural differences controlling interactions with components of the extracellular matrix and endocytosis/signalling co-receptors.