TFPI2 (F8I2H) Rabbit mAb #96780

Metastasis is a multi-step process that generally leads to reduced cell adhesion and degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM). Most metastatic cancer cells secrete matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which lead to ECM hydrolysis and tumor invasion (1-3). Tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI2) is a serine protease inhibitor involved in a variety of pathways modulating tumor growth and metastasis. TFPI2 was initially discovered in a screen for protease inhibitors using skin fibroblasts (1) and is in the Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor family. TFPI2 is produced and secreted into ECM by endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and urothelium (1-3). TFPI2 was shown to strongly prevent ECM hydrolysis by inhibiting plasminogen and MMPs, underscoring its importance in cancer metastases (1-3).

There is increased research interest in studying TFPI2 function as a tumor suppressor and its role in regulatory pathways involving angiogenesis, ECM degradation, and gene expression. TFPI2 levels are significantly reduced in many invasive tumors, such as glioma (4), prostate cancer, melanoma, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (5), breast (6,7), and kidney cancer (8). The methylation state of the TFPI2 gene promoter has been linked to tumor malignancy (10). Increased expression of TFPI2 in cancer cells has been shown to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis in vivo by modulating ECM remodeling and angiogenesis (10). Given the roles TFPI2 plays in cancer biology, the protein is a promising biomarker and drug target for cancer therapies (8,9).