Figure 2.

Reversion‐inducing cysteine‐rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) in carcinogenesis. (a) Certain matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are often upregulated in advanced or aggressive tumors. In contrast, RECK is downregulated in tumors of poor prognosis. (b) Conventional tumor suppressor genes are often inactivated or altered by mutations or chromosomal rearrangements. The RECK gene is probably intact in tumor cells but its expression is frequently downregulated. (c) Forced RECK expression in tumor cells improves basement membrane integrity (thick brown capsule) and inhibits vascular invasion and branching (orange), resulting in the death of tumor cells far from blood vessels (gray). Prevention of basement breakdown and angiogenesis may contribute to the observed suppression of tumor invasion and metastasis.