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Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Studying the Role of Alveolar Macrophages in Breast Cancer Metastasis
Published on: June 26, 2016
Premetastasis
1Department of Pharmacology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan.
Abstract:
Sterile inflammation within primary tumor tissues can spread to distant organs that are devoid of tumor cells. This happens in a manner dependent on tumor-led secretome, before the actual metastasis occurs. The premetastatic microenvironment is established in this way and is at least partly regulated by hijacking the host innate immune system. The biological manifestation of premetastasis include increased vascular permeability, cell mobilization via the blood stream, degradation of the extracellular matrix, immunosuppression, and host antineoplastic activities.
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