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Related Concept Videos

Metastasis02:30

Metastasis

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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...
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Cell Migration01:19

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Cell migration is a process by which the cells move from one location to another, playing an essential role in embryological development, repair and regeneration, immune response, and metastasis. Cells migrate in response to chemical or mechanical signals generated by specific organs or tissues. The overall mechanism includes three steps - polarization, protrusion, and release. Polarization involves the formation of a distinct cell front and rear, which determines the direction of movement.
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Cell Migration01:09

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Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
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Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration01:32

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A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker...
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Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia01:35

Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia

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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,...
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Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration01:21

Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration

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Cells can detect chemical cues in their environment and reorganize the cytoskeleton to migrate toward them or away from them. This directional migration, called chemotaxis, is essential during embryogenesis and development, immune response, tissue repair and regeneration, and reproduction. These chemical cues can either attract or repel the cell's movement. For example, axon development is determined by a combination of chemoattractants and chemorepellents that direct the growing axon...
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Updated: Oct 29, 2025

Modeling and Imaging 3-Dimensional Collective Cell Invasion
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Collective metastasis: coordinating the multicellular voyage.

Emma Wrenn1,2, Yin Huang1, Kevin Cheung3

  • 1Translational Research Program, Public Health Sciences and Human Biology Divisions, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.

Clinical & Experimental Metastasis
|July 13, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Cancer cells can metastasize collectively, forming clusters that travel and colonize distant organs. This multicellular coordination offers advantages over single-cell spread, providing new therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.

Keywords:
CTC clustersCollective invasionCollective metastasisIntercellular cooperationIntercellular signalingNanoluminaPolyclonal metastasis

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Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Metastasis Research

Background:

  • Metastasis is a complex, multi-step process involving cancer cell survival and proliferation in challenging microenvironments.
  • Overcoming barriers to distant organ colonization remains a key question in cancer progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight recent studies on collective metastasis, where tumor cell clusters spread.
  • To unravel mechanisms of multicellular coordination in cancer metastasis.
  • To discuss challenges and unique aspects of collective dissemination versus single-cell metastasis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent human patient and animal model studies on collective metastasis.
  • Analysis of physical and biochemical coupling mechanisms in coordinating cells.
  • Discussion of conceptual challenges and molecular transitions in collective dissemination.

Main Results:

  • Evidence supports collective metastasis, where tumor cell clusters complete the metastatic journey.
  • Multicellular coordination via cell coupling provides cooperative advantages for metastasis.
  • Collective dissemination presents unique mechanisms distinct from single-cell metastasis.

Conclusions:

  • Collective metastasis is a significant mode of cancer spread.
  • Understanding multicellular coordination offers insights into cancer therapy.
  • Dissecting molecular transitions in collective metastasis may reveal novel therapeutic strategies.