Galantos HEParanase Assay:

Background

Heparanase, an endoglycosidase that cleaves heparan sulfate (HS), is preferentially expressed in human tumors. Its over-expression in tumor cells results in an invasive phenotype. The expression of heparanase correlates with the metastatic potential of tumor cells, with an increased vascularity of tumors and poor post-operative survival of tumor patients.
Heparanase expression is not restricted to tumor cells. Inflammatory cells, like PMN and lymphocytes, also utilize heparanase for local degradation of sub-endothelial basement membranes to leave the blood vessels and enter inflammatory sites.
Furthermore, heparanase can release HS bound growth factors that are involved in tumor cell proliferation, metastasis and angiogenesis.