OPTIMIZATION OF STABLE CELL-BASED OVEREXPRESSION OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE 14

Matrix Metalloproteinase-14 (MMP-14) functions as a protease that assists in the digestion of type 1 collagen, a significant component of the extracellular matrix (ECM). MMP-14 may be essential in the metastases and invasion of cancers like lung, melanoma, and colon as well as diseases of the connective tissue. The progression of certain cancers may be constricted by developing specific enzymatic inhibitors that can target the action of this enzyme. In order to study the role of MMP-14 mediated invasion, we focused on the creation of a human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cell line stably overexpressing the MMP-14 protein. This cell line will be used for future diagnostic research of cell-based MMP-14 kinetic activity in order to eventually develop an effective and specific inhibitor for this protease.