Functioning of Proteasomes in Lymphogenic Metastasizing of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

Chymotrypsin- and caspase-like activities and expression of the total proteasome pool subunits (α1α2α3α5α6α7) were studied in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. Proteasome activities were higher in the primary tumors and lymphogenic metastases than in corresponding adjacent lung tissue. The content of α1α2α3α5α6α7 subunits decreased in metastases and remained unchanged in primary tumor tissue. The development of metastatic process in non-small-cell lung cancer was associated with nonlinear changes in proteasome activities and content in primary tumor tissue and lymphogenic metastases.