Final answer:
IR exposure can result in aggressive cancer cell behavior by affecting MMP2 and MMP9, which are enzymes that help cancer spread.
Sophisticated drug delivery systems targeting these MMPs have been researched to enhance treatment efficacy. Additionally, the MAP kinase cascade, regulated by factors like magnesium, influences cell proliferation and differentiation related to cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Infrared (IR) exposure can potentially induce aggressive behavior in cancer cells through the modulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), particularly MMP2 and MMP9. These MMPs are frequently up-regulated in various human tumors, playing a critical role in tumor invasion, progression, and metastasis.
Utilizing enzyme-triggered mechanisms, various drug delivery systems have been designed to target tumors more efficiently. They exploit the altered expression of MMPs enabling selective delivery of therapeutic agents directly to the tumor site.
For instance, Zhu developed a sophisticated drug delivery system that responds to up-regulated MMP2 in the tumor microenvironment, improving the targetability and internalization of the drug into tumor cells, hence aiding in selective drug delivery to cancer cells.
Moreover, the MAP kinase cascade, regulated by various factors including magnesium availability, plays an important role in cellular processes that could affect cancer cell behavior.
This pathway is crucial for transmitting signals from cell surface receptors to the DNA within the cell nucleus, influencing cell proliferation and differentiation.
The Ras protein-mediated activation of the MAP kinase cascade is central to many receptor kinase signaling pathways and has been implicated in as much as 30% of all cancers due to its role in controlling cell division when mutated.