Protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) promotes the motility of human melanomas and is associated to their metastatic phenotype.

Protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) is a unique G-protein-coupled receptor belonging to the protease-activated receptor family. Its activation leads to downstream signaling events that launch a variety of cellular responses related to tumor progression. PAR-1 expression has been associated to a variety of human cancers, and our previous studies reveal a high PAR-1 expression in melanoma specimens as compared to common nevi.

Identification of a functional role for the protease-activated receptor-1 in hypoxic breast cancer cells.

Aberrant expression of the protease-activated receptor (PAR)-1 has been associated with tumour progression. Indeed, PAR-1 expression correlates with tumour invasiveness, as well as with cancer cell survival. As the tumour microenvironment is characterised by a low oxygen tension, we decided to investigate the role of PAR-1 in cancer cells exposed to a hypoxic microenvironment.

A ribonuclease protection assay-based approach for analysis of angiogenic gene expression in archival tissues.

Archival, formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues routinely stored in pathology departments represent an invaluable resource for retrospective molecular biology studies for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. In such specimens extraction of transcriptionally competent RNA to be analyzed by conventional techniques, such as reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, is a challenging task. Therefore, we developed a novel methodological approach that allows successful detection and semiquantitative analysis of specific mRNAs obtained from archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens by ribonuclease protection assay.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase activity correlates with lymphangiogenesis and vascular endothelial growth factor-C expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a diatomic free radical molecule that has been implicated in tumour angiogenesis and progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the mechanism underlying the effect of NO on tumour spread remains largely unknown. Tumour lymphangiogenesis has recently received considerable attention and there is increasing evidence that it is relevant for metastasis to lymph nodes in HNSCC.

Expression of protease-activated receptors 1 and 2 in melanocytic nevi and malignant melanoma.

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are members of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily that are activated by the proteolytic cleavage of their amino terminal domain. PAR-1 activation by thrombin results in several biologic effects, including platelet adhesion to other cells or extracellular matrix, fibroblast, and endothelial cell growth, whereas PAR-2, activated by trypsin, has mainly a proinflammmatory and angiogenetic role. PAR-1 and PAR-2 modulate cell proliferation in physiopathologic cell invasion processes, suggesting that they may play a role in the setting of cancer growth and metastasis.