Abstract
Basement membranes serve as significant barriers to the passage of tumor cells but ones which metastatic cells can pass. This involves the production of a cascade of proteases leading to the activation of a specific collagenase that degrades the unique collagen network in basement membrane. Breast cancer cells, when estrogen dependent, show a requirement for estrogen for invasive activity. However, when these cells progress to an estrogen independent state and increased malignancy, they express an invasive phenotype constitutively. Studies with various anti-estrogens suggest that these responses are mediated via the estrogen receptor. Anti-estrogens lacking agonist activity suppress invasiveness as well as growth of the breast cancer cells.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 239-249 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Cancer Treatment and Research |
Volume | 40 |
Publication status | Published - 1988 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)