MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASES IN BREAST CANCER METASTASIZING

Matrix metalloproteinases are a family of extracellular, zinc-dependent endopeptidases. They are capable of cleaving almost all the components of the extracellular matrixof connective tissues. MMPs have a great influence both on physiological (e.g. embryogenesis) and pathological processes, such as arthritis, cancer (a special place is given to MMPs in processes of invasion and metastasis of tumors being stimulants of neoangiogenesis)