Matrigel influences morphology and cathepsin B distribution of prostate cancer PC3 cells.

Increases in expression and activity of matrix-degrading enzymes such as the cysteine proteinases cathepsins B and L, and abnormal levels of their inhibitors, the cystatins, are associated with tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Environmental conditions have been shown to be causative factors in the development of a metastatic/invasive phenotype. We hypothesized that cell-matrix interactions affect the expression and activity of cathepsins B and L and their inhibitors in the prostate cancer cell lines, PC3 and DU145.