Davis, Dominique

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases that play an important role in tumor growth and invasion (Gialeli, 2010). They can degrade cell-adhesion molecules that allow for cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions, which is necessary for cancer cells to degrade physical barriers (Gialeli, 2010). The presence of MMPs in cancer cells help promote cell invasion. In this project, melanoma cell lines WM115 (primary) and WM266-4 (metastatic) were used to conduct the invasion assay. The invasion assay was designed and optimized to test the ability of the cell to cut and pass through the collagen membrane. Next, a general MMP inhibitor was tested for inhibition of invasion. Varying inhibitor concentrations were used to see the effects. Following that, a more specific inhibitor targeting MT-1 MMP was tested with WM266-4 cells and inhibition of invasion was observed. MT1-MMP was the target of the inhibitor because of its involvement in cell invasion and its ability to cleave the collagen membrane.