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Article: New Compounds, Mechanisms Could Harness MMP Inhibition.
- Article from:
- BIOWORLD Today
- Article date:
- November 3, 2009
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 A Thomson Healthcare Company. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Science Editor
For the longest time, using matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors to combat cancer has pretty much been one of those things that should work, but hasn't.
Matrix metalloproteinases are a group of enzymes involved in breaking down the extracellular membrane. The gelatinase subgroup consists of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and has been implicated in cancer metastasis. The gelatinases break down tissues that surround malignant tumors, and inhibiting them should prevent tissue breakdown and contain the malignancy, thus preventing metastasis.
Or that's the theory, anyway. In practice, British Biotech plc (now Vernalis plc), Celltech Group plc and a ...