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Published on: November 28, 2019
Metastasis suppressors and the tumor microenvironment
Thomas M Bodenstine1, Danny R Welch
1Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, VH-G019, Birmingham, AL 35294-0019, USA.
Summary
Metastasis suppressors are key molecules that regulate cancer cell interactions with their environment, hindering cancer spread. Understanding these suppressors offers new therapeutic strategies against metastasis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Cancer metastasis is a complex process involving tumor cell interactions with the microenvironment.
- Identifying factors that control metastasis is crucial for developing effective cancer therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of metastasis suppressors in regulating tumor cell-microenvironmental interactions.
- To highlight how metastasis suppressors act at various stages of the metastatic cascade.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing scientific literature on metastasis suppressors.
- Analysis of data demonstrating the function of metastasis suppressors in cellular interactions.
Main Results:
- Metastasis suppressors regulate interactions between tumor cells, host cells, and extracellular molecules.
- These suppressors function at multiple steps within the metastatic cascade.
- Data indicate metastasis suppressors can be targeted for therapeutic intervention.
Conclusions:
- Metastasis suppressors are critical regulators of cancer cell dissemination.
- Targeting metastasis suppressor pathways presents a promising strategy for controlling cancer metastasis.
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