@article{oai:sapmed.repo.nii.ac.jp:00014198,
 author = {Yamamoto, Hiroyuki and Itoh, Fumio and Adachi, Yasushi and Iku, Shouhei and Fukushima, Hiroshi and Horiuchi, Shina and Sasaki, Shigeru and Arimura, Yoshiaki and Endo, Takao},
 journal = {Tumor Research, Tumor Research},
 month = {},
 note = {Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) matrilysin has been implicated in tumor invasion and metastasis as well as in tumor initiation and growth in gastrointestinal and other cancers. As a MMP,matrilysin is unique in its minimum MMP structure,wide spectrum of substrate specificity,potency for starting an activation cascade of MMPs,and,most notably,in its production by cancer cells themselves.The production by cancer cells themselves could be an advantage as a biological marker of themalignant phenotype.indeed,we have found that matrilysin expression at the invasive front is correlated with the progression of gastric,colorectal,hepatocellular,and pancreatic carcinomas as well as esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.We have also revealed the correlation of matrilysin expression with recurrence and/or poor prognosis in carcinomas of the colorectum,liver,pancreas, and esophagus.Another advantage is its susceptibility to direct therapeutic intervention.Inhibition of matrilysin by an antisense expression vector or antisense oligonucleotides has been demonstrated to suppress the in vitro invasive potential or in vivo metastatic potential of gastric,colonic,and pancreatic cancer cells. The crucial roles of MMPs,especially those of matrilysin,in cancers have thus generated considerable interest in the use of synthetic MMP inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents. Matrilysin could be a promising therapeutic molecular target for cancers of the digestive org},
 pages = {1--12},
 title = {Matrix Metalloproteinase Matrilysin in Cancers of the Digestive Organs},
 volume = {35},
 year = {2000}
}