Control of Metastasis by NK Cells
Alejandro López-Soto1, Segundo Gonzalez1, Mark J Smyth2
1Departamento de Biología Funcional, Área de Inmunología, Universidad de Oviedo, Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias (IUOPA), 33006 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
Abstract:
The metastatic spread of malignant cells to distant anatomical locations is a prominent cause of cancer-related death. Metastasis is governed by cancer-cell-intrinsic mechanisms that enable neoplastic cells to invade the local microenvironment, reach the circulation, and colonize distant sites, including the so-called epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Moreover, metastasis is regulated by microenvironmental and systemic processes, such as immunosurveillance. Here, we outline the cancer-cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic factors that regulate metastasis, discuss the key role of natural killer (NK) cells in the control of metastatic dissemination, and present potential therapeutic approaches to prevent or target metastatic disease by harnessing NK cells.
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