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Metastasis02:30

Metastasis

Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
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Invadosome is a broad category of cell surface structures with proteolytic activity that  degrades the extracellular matrix (ECM). Invadosomes are present in normal cell types, including macrophages, endothelial cells, and neurons, as well as tumor cells. Although the macrophage podosomes and tumor cell invadopodia are classified as invadosomes, they have different structures, molecular pathways, and functions. Podosomes are short structures that last for a few minutes. However, invadopodia can...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...

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Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Metastasis is the primary cause of cancer mortality, yet it is an inefficient process.
  • Pre-metastatic niche formation is a key mechanism promoting metastasis.
  • Tumor-derived microvesicles (TDMVs) are increasingly recognized for their role in metastasis and altering normal cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose models for how TDMVs (metastasomes) facilitate secondary lesion formation.
  • To explore the roles of TDMVs in tumor-organ-training (TOTr) and tumor-organ-targeting (TOTa).
  • To investigate the contribution of RNA molecules within TDMVs to cancer spread and tropism.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of TDMV functions in metastasis.
  • Review of existing literature on microvesicles, RNA transfer, and pre-metastatic niche formation.
  • Hypothesizing mechanisms of TDMV-mediated tumor-organ interaction.

Main Results:

  • TDMVs may establish pre-metastatic niches (TOTr) and directly/indirectly promote neoplastic phenotypes in secondary organs (TOTa).
  • RNA molecules, especially microRNAs, within TDMVs are proposed as key mediators of "malignant trait" spreading.
  • Interactions between transferred tumor-specific RNA signatures and recipient organ RNA contribute to organ-specific metastatic outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • TDMVs (metastasomes) are critical players in cancer metastasis, acting as "tumor-organ matchmakers".
  • RNA transfer via TDMVs influences metastatic seeding, tropism, and the development of secondary lesions.
  • Understanding these mechanisms offers potential therapeutic targets for inhibiting cancer spread.