A collagenase (enzyme) that “clears a path” through living tissue, ahead of tumor cells, thereby enabling a cancer to spread within the body.
Member of the matrix metalloproteinase family of enzymes that plays a major role in the degradation of proteoglycans, gelatin, and other constituents of the extracellular matrix. Two forms of stromelysin have been described, stromelysin-1 and -2. Stromelysin-1 degrades proteoglycans, gelatin, fibronectin, laminin, collagen types III, IV, IX, and X. Stromelysin-2 degrades proteoglycans, fibronectin, laminin, and collagen type IV.