Cancer initiation and progression

The hypothesis that stress can modulate MMP expression is also supported by studies in mice. Using social isolation as a stressor, the mRNA levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, matrix-type matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MT1-MMP), and urokinase-type plasminogen activator were higher in the tumor and liver tissues of the isolated mice than in control mice.91 Furthermore, a recent study has shown that restraint stress causes an increase in expression of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, another key player in the plas-minogen/plasmin enzyme system in mice.92 As these enzymes have been described to have functions besides their role in ECM remodeling,93 studies on stress-related effects on MMP/TIMP balance have implications in the relationship between stress and cancer initiation and progression.. 

The breakthrough realization that chemicals, mainly antioxidants, in common foods could manipulate cancer initiation and progression in cells... 

Itano N, Zhuo L, Kimata K. Impact of the hyaluronan-rich tumor microenvironment on cancer initiation and progression. Cancer Sci 2008 99 1720-1725. 

Liao D, Corle C, Seagroves TN, Johnson RS. Hypoxia-inducible factor-lalpha is a key regulator of metastasis in a transgenic model of cancer initiation and progression. 

Bhowmick NA, Neilson EG, Moses HL. Stromal fibroblasts in cancer initiation and progression. 

Fig. 2 Carcinogenesis. Environmental factors and molecular events involved in the initiation and progression of colorectal cancer...

The pathogenesis of prostate cancer reflects both hereditary and environmental components, and growing evidence suggests a role for chronic inflammation in prostate cancer [21, 22, 78], The exact mechanisms by which inflammatory processes contribute to the initiation and progression of prostate cancer remain... 

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