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Tumor Hypoxia Assessment: In Vivo 3D Oxygen Imaging Through Electron Paramagnetic Resonance
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Tumor Hypoxia and Circulating Tumor Cells.

Walter Tinganelli1, Marco Durante1,2

  • 1Biophysics Department, GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|December 19, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are aggressive cells that spread cancer. This review explores how radiation and hypoxia promote CTCs and disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) formation and metastasis.

Keywords:
CTCsDTCsEMTinvasionmetastasismigration

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Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Cellular Microenvironment

Background:

  • Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are rare, aggressive cells originating from primary tumors.
  • These cells invade lymphatic and circulatory systems, leading to metastasis.
  • The tumor microenvironment, especially hypoxia and starvation, selects for aggressive CTCs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the molecular mechanisms of CTCs and disseminated tumor cells (DTCs).
  • To investigate the role of radiation and hypoxia in CTC and DTC development.
  • To understand how radiotherapy may paradoxically promote cancer metastasis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on CTCs, DTCs, hypoxia, and radiotherapy.
  • Analysis of molecular mechanisms driving CTC invasion and proliferation.
  • Examination of evidence linking radiation exposure to increased CTC dissemination and DTC activation.

Main Results:

  • Hypoxia and starvation within the tumor microenvironment induce and select for aggressive CTCs.
  • Radiotherapy can disrupt tumor vasculature, increasing CTC dissemination.
  • Radiation promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and activates dormant DTCs, potentially driving metastasis.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the interplay between the tumor microenvironment, hypoxia, and radiation is crucial.
  • Radiotherapy's role in promoting metastasis via CTCs and DTCs warrants further investigation.
  • Targeting these mechanisms could offer new strategies to prevent cancer spread.