Solutions for the Interaction of Tumor Cells with MMPs

Relying on the technology platform of the tumor microenvironment center, Alfa Cytology provides comprehensive solutions the study of the interactions between tumor microenvironment (TME) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), helping researchers to successfully achieve their research goals.

Introduction

It has been found that matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) can directly degrade the extracellular matrix and promote tumor cell infiltration and metastasis. They can also bind to the adhesion receptors on the surface of tumor cells, such as integrins, to enrich the surface of tumor cells, which leads to the reduction of adhesion between tumor cells and the surrounding matrix and causes the degeneration of extracellular matrix, promoting the infiltration and metastasis of tumor cells. Moreover, this compound form can promote the mutual activation of MMPs and block the regulatory influence of TIMPs, which can maximize the role of MMPs in degrading the matrix and promoting tumor invasion.

Subsequent animal studies have found that inhibition of MMPs can inhibit the invasive potential of tumor cells. However, when this finding was applied to clinical trials, it was found that it was not effective in improving the survival rate of tumor patients. Recent studies have demonstrated that the role of MMPs is far more complex than initially thought. They not only degrade the physical barriers to tumor invasion, but also influence tumorigenesis and progression by regulating many components of the tumor microenvironment (TME).

Solutions

MMPs can not only enzymatically dissolve the extracellular matrix to promote tumor cell metastasis, but also regulate the signaling pathways of tumor cell growth, inhibit tumor cell apoptosis, promote the inflammatory response and angiogenesis of tumor tissue, and interact with adipocytes to influence tumor progression. They can also regulate tumor cell growth signaling pathways, inhibit tumor cell apoptosis, promote tumor tissue inflammation and angiogenesis, interact with adipocytes to influence tumor progression, and even act in a non-enzymatic manner. They can not only interact with multiple components of the tumor microenvironment, but also interact with each other. Each MMP acts at a site and time point that ultimately promotes tumorigenesis and progression by regulating the tumor microenvironment. The sites and time points of action of each MMPs are different. The sites and time points of action of each MMPs are also different. These reasons make it difficult for the presently developed broad-spectrum MMPs inhibitors to target their blocking effects. Alfa Cytology has established an innovative tumor microenvironment center technology platform, and is developing multiple technologies to investigate the interactions between MMPs and other components in TME in the process of tumor development. Based on this technology platform, it is expected to elucidate their interactions and develop targeted drugs that target specific MMPs or an activation site to inhibit their related effects and ultimately achieve the goal of treating or arresting tumor progression.

Key technologies

Studies have shown that inhibitors of matrix metaloproteinases (MMPs) have good potential for development and application as novel antitumor agents in tumor therapy. The establishment of a real-time in vivo assay for MMPs activity is important for exploring its relationship with TME, and it allows for high-throughput in vivo screening of MMPs inhibitors. Genetic engineering techniques were applied to synthesize fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) probes for in vivo detection of hydrolase activity, and FRET imaging enables dynamic monitoring of hydrolase activity expressed in vitro and in different cells for the study of MMP and TME for the study of MMP inhibitors in vivo as anticancer drugs.

Tumor animal models include spontaneous tumor animal models, induced tumor animal models, transplanted tumor animal models and human tumor xenograft tumor models. Establishing tumor animal models can study the interaction between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tumor microenvironment (TME) and their molecular mechanisms of action, evaluate the efficacy of tumor suppressors, and serve as a model for anti-tumor drug screening.

Alfa Cytology is committed to supporting scientists in making breakthrough scientific discoveries and developing new applications to accelerate new drug discovery and scientific diagnosis and treatment. Our high-performance scientific instruments and high-value solutions enable scientists to explore the mysteries of life at the tumor microenvironment level. Please tell us your project requirements, and we will provide you with a full service from solution to report. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.