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Invasion and metastasis
1Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Abstract:
Tumor metastasis remains a major cause of death for cancer patients. From a clinical perspective, treatment of metastatic disease remains difficult. The initial tumor cell invasive and locomotive events have been completed in many patients by the time of cancer diagnosis and surgery. This observation focuses attention on the last steps in the metastatic cascade for therapeutic development, ie, angiogenesis and colonization at the metastatic site. Emerging themes in metastasis research, including the molecular characterization of protease production and angiogenesis, the interrelationship of growth and metastasis, and the genetic control of the metastatic process are discussed.
Insights
Tumor metastasis is a primary cause of cancer death, with late-stage events like angiogenesis and colonization offering therapeutic targets. Research highlights molecular factors and genetic control in the metastatic cascade.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Molecular Medicine
Background:
- Tumor metastasis is a leading cause of cancer mortality.
- Treating metastatic cancer is clinically challenging.
- Invasive and locomotive tumor cell events often precede diagnosis and surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To focus therapeutic development on the later stages of the metastatic cascade.
- To explore emerging themes in metastasis research.
Main Methods:
- Review of molecular characterization of protease production and angiogenesis.
- Analysis of the interrelationship between tumor growth and metastasis.
- Discussion of genetic control mechanisms in metastasis.
Main Results:
- Identification of angiogenesis and colonization as critical late-stage metastatic events.
- Emphasis on molecular mechanisms driving metastasis.
- Highlighting the genetic underpinnings of the metastatic process.
Conclusions:
- Therapeutic strategies should target late-stage metastatic events such as angiogenesis and colonization.
- Understanding molecular and genetic factors is crucial for combating metastasis.
- Further research into protease production and tumor growth interplay is warranted.