Erythromycin and clarithromycin modulation of growth factor-induced expression of heparanase mRNA on human lung cancer cells in vitro.

findings suggest that heparanase expression and cellular localization are decisive for lung cancer patients' prognosis, most likely because of heparanase-mediated tumor cell dissemination by blood and lymph vessels.

Heparanase was localized to the cytoplasm and nucleus of tumor cells and to cells within the microenvironment in different types of lung cancer.

Elevated heparanase procoagulant activity in patients with lung cancer reveals a new mechanism of coagulation system activation in malignancy. Heparanase procoagulant activity can potentially be used as a predictor for survival.

Data report that mammary gland branching morphogenesis is increased in MMTV-HSPE and MMTV-8c (HSPE c-terminal)mice. Also, the growth of tumors generated by mouse breast cancer cells and the resulting lung metastases are enhanced in MMTV-HPSE mice, thus supporting the notion that HPSE contributed by the tumor microenvironment plays a decisive role in tumorigenesis.