Proprotein Convertases in Tumorigenesis, Angiogenesis and Metastasis

Proprotein convertases (PCs) are directly responsible for the activation of protein precursors implicated in neoplasia by either the degradation of extracellular matrix and modulation of cell adhesion, growth and/or survival. These functions are crucial in the acquisition of the tumorigenic phenotype, tumor progression and metastasis. Here we discuss a number of recent findings on the role of these enzymes in the regulation of multiple cellular functions that impact on the invasive/metastatic potential of cancer cells