MDPK-67: inhibitor of human kallikrein 2 protease

hK2: Correlation with Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness

Human glandular kallikrein (hK2) protein is a prostate-specific serine protease. Its expression increases incrementally from benign epithelium to prostatic epithelial neoplasia to prostate cancer. It is directly associated with the Gleason grade of the primary tumor with foci metastatic to the lymph nodes where it demonstrates the highest level of expression.

Involvement of hK2 in Prostate Cancer Development

Its numerous proteolytic activities suggest that hK2 contributes to cancer progression and development:

• Release of IGF-1 by hydrolysis of IGFBP (best protease described)
• Activation of EGF receptor by cross-activation of B2 receptor via bradykinins
• Activation of urokinase system by activation of pro-urokinase and inactivation of its natural inhibitor PAI-1
• Degradation of extracellular matrix proteins