Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 2-1
Growth factors signaling pathways in cerebral
gliomas (K-kinase, EGF-epidermal growth factor, PDGF-
plateled derived growth factor, mTOR-mammalian target of
rapamycin, PTEN-tumor suppressor phosphatise and tensin
homolog, PKC-protein kinase C, PI3K phosphatidylinositol-3-
kinase, PLC-phospholipase, Akt-, MEK-1/2-mitogen-activated
protein kinase and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase-
1/2, kinase, MAPK/ERK-1/2-mitogen-activated protein kinase/
extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase-1/2).
inhibition, allowing tumor cells to freely migrate and invade the surround-
ing tissues. The proteolytic degradation of the BM is mediated by pro-
teases, such as the matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), secreted by tumor
and stromal cells [8]. MMPs play an important role in human brain tumor
invasion, probably due to an imbalance between the production of MMPs
and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases-1 (TIMP-1) by the tumor cells
[8]. MMP-1 is able to initiate breakdown of the interstitial collagens and to
