Cancer metastasis: molecular biology, methods of investigation and anti-metastatic strategies

摘要

The mechanism of metastasis is sequential and the growth of metastasis represents the endpoint of many lethal events that only a few tumor cells can survive. The successful metastatic cells initially undergo neoplastic transformation into cells which have high metastatic capacity. This is followed by progressive proliferation of these tumor cells; formation of a tumor-blood vessel network or angiogenesis; tissue and capillary invasion; detachment of tumor cells and embolization in the circulation;survival of host defense system in the circulation; adhesion, arrest and extravasation from blood vessels and finally growth in distant organ. A good insight into the molecular mechanisms that downregulate the pathobiology of cancer metastasis and betterinteraction between the metastatic cell and the host environment provides a good foundation for the development of new anti-metastatic approaches in cancer treatment. The induction of differentiation that leads to a reduction in the proliferative and malignant properties of cancer cells and the inhibition of tumor-induced angiogenesis present great promise that has recently developed into an attractive anti-metastatic strategy.