Cancer and Vascular Biology Research Center details research in cancer

New investigation results, 'Tumorigenic and adhesive properties of heparanase,' are detailed in a study published in Seminars In Cancer Biology. "Heparanase is an endo-ß-glucuronidase that cleaves heparan sulfate side chains presumably at sites of low sulfation, activity that is strongly implicated with cell invasion associated with cancer metastasis, a consequence of structural modification that loosens the extracellular matrix barrier. In addition, heparanase exerts pro-adhesive properties, mediated by clustering of membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans (i.e., syndecans) and activation of signaling molecules such as Akt, Src, EGFR, and Rac in a heparan sulfate-dependent and...

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