Skip to main content

Mathematical Modelling of Proteolysis and Cancer Cell Invasion of Tissue

Part of the Lecture Notes in Mathematics book series (LNMBIOS,volume 1872)

Abstract

The growth of solid tumors proceeds through two distinct phases: the avascular and the vascular phase. It is during the latter stage that the insidious process of cancer invasion of peritumoral tissue can and does take place. Vascular tumors grow rapidly allowing the cancer cells to establish a new colony in distant organs, a process known as metastasis. The metastatic cascade is a multistep process that involves the over-expression of proteolytic enzyme activity such as the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). uPA initiates the activation of an enzymatic cascade that primarily involves the activation of plasminogen and subsequently its matrix degrading protein plasmin. Degradation of the peritumoral tissue enables the cancer cells to migrate through the tissue and subsequently to spread to secondary sites in the body.

Keywords

  • Cancer Cell Invasion
  • Plasminogen Activation
  • Urokinase Plasminogen Activator
  • Urokinase Receptor
  • Minogen Activator

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (Canada)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (Canada)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (Canada)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

Copyright information

© 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin/Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Lolas, G. (2006). Mathematical Modelling of Proteolysis and Cancer Cell Invasion of Tissue. In: Friedman, A. (eds) Tutorials in Mathematical Biosciences III. Lecture Notes in Mathematics, vol 1872. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/11561606_3

Download citation