Effects of E-64 (cysteine-proteinase inhibitor) and Pepstatin (aspartyl-proteinase inhibitor) on metastasis formation in mice with mammary and ovarian tumors

The effects of E-64 (Cathespin B and L inhibitor) and Pepstatin A (Cathepsin D inhibitor) on spontaneous and experimental metastasis formation were investigated in mice with MCa mammary carcinoma, M5076 ovarian sarcoma and L1210 leukemia. Pepstatin induced a marked decrease in the number of spontaneous metastasis in MCa or M5076 tumor bearing mice. This phenomenon was also noted with E-64 but only in M5076 tumor bearing mice. On the other hand, both these agents were unable to prevent the formation of experimental metastasis in mice injected i.v. with L1210, MCa or M5076 tumor cells or with tumor cells in which Cathepsin B, E and D activities were inhibited by a 24 hour continuous exposure to high non-cytotoxic concentrations of L-64 and/or Pepstatin. These data suggest that Cathepsin B, E and D seem to be involved in the early steps of the metastatic process rather than in the hematogenous spread of tumor cells. However, other pharmacological activities which may account for the discrepant effects of E-64 or Pepsatin on experimental and spontaneous metastasis cannot be ruled out.