@Article{096504016X14743350548249,
AUTHOR = {Cheng Xu, Lu Cao, Jianhua Liu, Zhongrun Qian, Yu Peng, Wenjing Zhu, Yongming Qiu, Yingying Lin},
TITLE = {Suppression of Asparaginyl Endopeptidase Inhibits Polyomavirus  Middle T Antigen-Induced Tumor Formation and Metastasis},
JOURNAL = {Oncology Research},
VOLUME = {25},
YEAR = {2017},
NUMBER = {3},
PAGES = {407--415},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/or/v25n3/56820},
ISSN = {1555-3906},
ABSTRACT = {Elevated circulating asparaginyl endopeptidase (AEP), a novel lysosomal protease, has been found in breast 
cancer, and AEP is thus considered to be a prognostic factor in this disease. However, the pathological functions of circulating AEP in the development of breast cancer and the potential of AEP-targeted therapy remain 
unclear. We used MMTV-PyVmT transgenic mice, which spontaneously develop mammary tumors. Western 
blotting showed overexpression of AEP in both primary tumor tissue and lung metastases compared to their 
normal counterparts. Moreover, the concentration of circulating AEP gradually increased in the serum during 
the development of mammary tumors. Purified AEP protein injected through the tail vein promoted tumor 
growth and mammary tumor metastasis and shortened survival, whereas AEP-specific small compound inhibitors (AEPIs) effectively suppressed tumor progression and prolonged host survival. Further analysis of the 
molecular mechanism revealed that AEP was important for PI3K/AKT pathway activation. Thus, an elevated 
serum AEP level was closely related to mammary cancer progression and metastasis, and AEP is a potential 
target for breast cancer therapy in the clinic.},
DOI = {10.3727/096504016X14743350548249}
}