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Hypoxia and the Metastatic Niche
Cerise Yuen-Ki Chan1, Vincent Wai-Hin Yuen1, Carmen Chak-Lui Wong2
1Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|June 16, 2019
Summary
Metastasis involves early remodeling of future metastatic sites through factors from primary tumors, creating a
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Metastasis, the spread of cancer, begins earlier than detectable.
- Primary tumors release factors that remodel distant sites, forming a 'metastatic niche'.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review key findings on metastatic niche formation.
- To highlight the role of hypoxia in this process.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on metastasis and niche formation.
- Analysis of secretory factors, ECM modification, and immune cell roles.
Main Results:
- Secretory factors from primary tumors, induced by inflammation and hypoxia, modify the extracellular matrix (ECM) and immune microenvironment.
- Immune-suppressive cells like TAMs and Tregs, and altered blood vessel permeability characterize the metastatic niche.
- Organ-specific metastatic patterns arise from unique tissue characteristics and circulatory connections.
Conclusions:
- Metastatic niche formation is an early step in metastasis, preceding cancer cell detachment.
- Understanding niche formation is crucial for developing drugs to prevent metastasis and organotropism.
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