Metallothioneins (MTs) are low molecular, cysteine-rich proteins that have naturally-occurring Zn(2+) in both clusters. They may serve as a reservoir of metals for synthesis of apoenzymes and zinc-finger transcription regulators. MTs are also involved with several important proteins e.g. p53, NF-kappaB, PKCl, and GTPase Rab3A. New biological roles for these proteins have been identified including those needed in the carcinogenic process. However, their use as a predictive marker remains controversial. Several reports have disclosed MTs expression as a prognostic factor for tumor progression and drug resistance in a variety of malignancies particularly breast, prostatic, ovarial, head and neck, non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, and soft tissue sarcoma. The role of MTs as a tumor disease marker or as a cause of resistance in cancer treatment is reviewed and discussed. Moreover, we describe some analytical methods that were developed to detect MTs.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry Zemedelska 1 Brno CZ 613 00 Czech Republic

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