Chymotrypsin-like and caspase-like proteasome activities in breast cancer

The chymotrypsin-like and caspase-like proteasome activities were studied in tumor tissues of 74 patients with breast cancer (BC) NМin association with tumor size and lymph node involvement. Chymotrypsin-like and caspase-like proteasome activities were Т1-40-30 higher in breast cancer tissue than in adjacent tissues. We showed that advanced BC is accompanied by increase in chymotrypsin-like and caspase-like proteasome activities. In tumors with lymph node dissemination, proteasome activity was significantly decreased, which may have prospective prognostic value. Taken together, our data indicate an important role of intracellular proteolysis in BC progression.