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Related Experiment Videos

How and when do tumor cells metastasize?

M M Mareel1, F M Van Roy, M E Bracke

  • 1Department of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, Gent, Belgium.

Critical Reviews in Oncogenesis
|January 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary

Metastasis involves tumor cells navigating sequential microecosystems. Molecular balances regulating cell adhesion, extracellular matrix (ECM) breakdown, and migration are key to these invasion steps.

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Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Tumor cell metastasis is a complex, multi-step process.
  • Each step is hypothesized to represent a distinct microecosystem.
  • These microecosystems involve neoplastic cells, host cells, and the extracellular matrix (ECM).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review molecular pathways regulating microecosystems in tumor metastasis.
  • To elucidate the role of molecular balances in invasion and metastasis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of molecular pathways involved in metastasis.
  • Analysis of molecular mechanisms governing cell-cell adhesion, ECM degradation, and cell migration.
  • Examination of factors influencing survival and growth at ectopic sites.

Main Results:

  • Homotypic cell-cell adhesion molecules inhibit invasion.
  • Lytic enzyme complexes and their regulators control ECM breakdown.
  • ECM components, receptors, and motility factors drive cell migration.
  • Heterotypic cell-cell adhesion molecules mediate extravasation.
  • Specific factors facilitate survival and growth in ectopic sites.

Conclusions:

  • Metastasis is driven by sequential invasion steps within microecosystems.
  • Precise molecular balances within these microecosystems control invasion events.
  • Understanding these balances is crucial for targeting metastasis.

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