Proteinases are known to be involved in many cancer-related processes, particularly in the breakdown of extracellular matrix barriers in the course of tumor invasion and metastasis. In this review we summarize the current knowledge about the role of the most important matrix-degrading proteinases (cathepsins, matrix metalloproteinases, plasmin/plasminogen activators) and their respective inhibitors in liver cancer progression and metastasis.
Keywords: Cathepsin; Cystatin; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Metalloproteinase; Metastasis; Plasminogen activator; Tumor invasion.