Invadopodia and podosomes in tumor invasion

Cell migration through the extracellular matrix (ECM) is necessary for cancer cells to invade adjacent tissues and metastasize to an organ distant from primary tumors. Highly invasive carcinoma cells form ECM-degrading membrane protrusions called invadopodia. Tumor-associated macrophages have been shown to promote the migratory phenotypes of carcinoma cells, and macrophages are known to form podosomes, similar structures to invadopodia. However, the role of invadopodia and podosomes in vivo remains to be determined. In this paper, we propose a model for possible functions and interactions of invadopodia and podosomes in tumor invasion, based on observations that macrophage podosomes degrade ECM and that podosome formation is regulated by colony-stimulating factor-1 signaling.