Overexpression and secretion of the enzymes cathepsin D (CathD) and cathepsin L (CathL)
is associated with metastasis in several human cancers. As a superfamily, extracellularly, these
proteins may act within the tumor microenvironment to drive cancer progression, proliferation,
invasion and metastasis. Therefore, it is important ...
Overexpression and secretion of the enzymes cathepsin D (CathD) and cathepsin L (CathL)
is associated with metastasis in several human cancers. As a superfamily, extracellularly, these
proteins may act within the tumor microenvironment to drive cancer progression, proliferation,
invasion and metastasis. Therefore, it is important to discover novel therapeutic treatment strategies
to target CathD and CathL and potentially impede metastasis. Graphene oxide (GO) could form
the basis of such a strategy by acting as an adsorbent for pro-metastatic enzymes. Here, we have
conducted research into the potential of targeted anti-metastatic therapy using GO to adsorb these
pro-tumorigenic enzymes. Binding of CathD/L to GO revealed that CathD/L were adsorbed onto
the surface of GO through its cationic and hydrophilic residues. This work could provide a roadmap
for the rational integration of CathD/L-targeting agents into clinical settings.