Cathepsin D as a Promising Target for the Discovery of Novel Anticancer Agents

Background: Cathepsin D (CATD), one of the aspartyl endoproteinase involved in different physiological processes and signaling pathways, is accountable for metabolic breakdown of intracellular proteins, the activation of growth factors, hormones, and precursors of enzyme, the processing of antigens, enzyme inhibitors and activators and the regulation of apoptosis. Keywords: Aspartic protease, cancer, cathepsin D, chemoprevention, natural products, apoptosis.