Does integrin-mediated cell death confer tissue tropism in metastasis?
Jill M Lahti1, Tal Teitz, Dwayne G Stupack
1Department of Genetics and Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA. jill.lahti@st.jude.org
Abstract:
To develop metastatic capability, tumor cells must evolve the capacity to survive in novel microenvironments. Recently, we showed that metastasis of neuroblastoma cells is enhanced by loss of caspase-8, an event that occurs frequently in this malignancy. In poorly metastatic cells, unligated integrins were found to trigger activation of caspase-8, providing a selective pressure to promote its attenuation and thereby increased survival in foreign adhesive environments. Our findings suggest one mechanism by which the organotropism of metastatic cancer cells can arise.
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