• HOME
  • NEWS
  • EXPLORE
    • CAREER
      • Companies
      • Jobs
    • EVENTS
    • iGEM
      • News
      • Team
    • PHOTOS
    • VIDEO
    • WIKI
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • TWITTER
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
BIOENGINEER.ORG
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • EXPLORE
    • CAREER
      • Companies
      • Jobs
        • Lecturer
        • PhD Studentship
        • Postdoc
        • Research Assistant
    • EVENTS
    • iGEM
      • News
      • Team
    • PHOTOS
    • VIDEO
    • WIKI
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • TWITTER
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • EXPLORE
    • CAREER
      • Companies
      • Jobs
        • Lecturer
        • PhD Studentship
        • Postdoc
        • Research Assistant
    • EVENTS
    • iGEM
      • News
      • Team
    • PHOTOS
    • VIDEO
    • WIKI
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • TWITTER
No Result
View All Result
Bioengineer.org
No Result
View All Result
Home NEWS Science News Biology

PSA, a prostate cancer marker, activates vascular and lymphangiogenic growth factors

Bioengineer by Bioengineer
May 24, 2019
in Biology
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinShare on RedditShare on Telegram

Growth factors VEGF-C and VEGF-D are contributors to the spread of cancer

Together with its partners, a research group led by Docent Michael Jeltsch at the University of Helsinki, Finland, has discovered new mechanisms which activate the vascular endothelial and lymphangiogenic growth factors VEGF-C and VEGF-D. These growth factors play a central role not only in fetal development but in the spread of cancer and the formation of metastases.

Most fatalities caused by cancers that produce tumours – among others, prostate cancer – are specifically the result of metastases. Understanding the chain of events leading to the development of metastases, as well as the related key factors, is necessary for finding means to inhibit or halt the process.

The researchers discovered two new proteolytic enzymes (proteases) which are able to activate both growth factors, VEGF-C and VEGF-D. One of the enzymes is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which is also used as a marker for prostate cancer. In addition to the prostate, VEGF-C and PSA occur in semen, where they may have a reproductive impact, particularly on fertility.

The researchers also found that the cathepsin D protease is able to activate VEGF-C and VEGF-D. It was already previously known that cathepsin D is related to the formation of metastases, but detailed information on the mechanism of action has been lacking.

“These new findings provide a great deal of new information on the functioning of lymphangiogenic and vascular endothelial growth factors in general and specifically on their role in prostate cancer and reproductive biology,” Jeltsch notes.

“In the future, our discoveries may help in both developing novel cancer drugs as well as identifying and treating mechanisms related to infertility.”

###

Media Contact
Dr. Michael Jeltsch
[email protected]

Related Journal Article

https://www.helsinki.fi/en/news/health-news/psa-a-prostate-cancer-marker-activates-vascular-and-lymphangiogenic-growth-factors-contributors-to-the-spread-of-cancer
http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.44478

Tags: BiochemistryBiologycancerDevelopmental/Reproductive BiologyFertilityMedicine/HealthProstate CancerUrogenital System
Share13Tweet8Share2ShareShareShare2

Related Posts

blank

Spider Web “Decorations” Could Reveal Exact Location of Captured Prey

October 29, 2025
blank

Lehigh University Researchers Create Computational Model to Optimize Neurostimulation Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation

October 29, 2025

Breakthrough in Spinal Cord Injury: Bioinformatics Paves the Way for Regenerative Therapy

October 29, 2025

Unraveling the Science Behind Wildlife Trafficking and Its Links to Organized Crime

October 29, 2025
Please login to join discussion

POPULAR NEWS

  • Sperm MicroRNAs: Crucial Mediators of Paternal Exercise Capacity Transmission

    1290 shares
    Share 515 Tweet 322
  • Stinkbug Leg Organ Hosts Symbiotic Fungi That Protect Eggs from Parasitic Wasps

    311 shares
    Share 124 Tweet 78
  • ESMO 2025: mRNA COVID Vaccines Enhance Efficacy of Cancer Immunotherapy

    200 shares
    Share 80 Tweet 50
  • New Study Suggests ALS and MS May Stem from Common Environmental Factor

    135 shares
    Share 54 Tweet 34

About

We bring you the latest biotechnology news from best research centers and universities around the world. Check our website.

Follow us

Recent News

Natural Inhibitors Target Cathepsin B in Alzheimer’s Disease

Machine Learning Enhances Breast Cancer Survival Predictions

Hypoxia Alters Calpastatin, Influencing Trophoblast Function

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 67 other subscribers
  • Contact Us

Bioengineer.org © Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Homepages
    • Home Page 1
    • Home Page 2
  • News
  • National
  • Business
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Science

Bioengineer.org © Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved.