Cleavage of CD95 by matrix metalloproteinase-7 induces apoptosis resistance in tumour cells.

The ability of tumour cells to resist apoptosis-inducing signals by cytotoxic T cells may decide the success or failure of tumour elimination. An important effector of apoptosis is the CD95/CD95 ligand system (APO-1/Fas) that mediates perforin-independent cytotoxic T-cell killing of tumour cells. We propose a new strategy by which tumour cells can resist CD95-induced apoptosis.