Tumor metastasis: molecular insights and evolving paradigms

Cell. 2011 Oct 14;147(2):275-92. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.09.024.

Abstract

Metastases represent the end products of a multistep cell-biological process termed the invasion-metastasis cascade, which involves dissemination of cancer cells to anatomically distant organ sites and their subsequent adaptation to foreign tissue microenvironments. Each of these events is driven by the acquisition of genetic and/or epigenetic alterations within tumor cells and the co-option of nonneoplastic stromal cells, which together endow incipient metastatic cells with traits needed to generate macroscopic metastases. Recent advances provide provocative insights into these cell-biological and molecular changes, which have implications regarding the steps of the invasion-metastasis cascade that appear amenable to therapeutic targeting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basement Membrane / pathology
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / drug therapy
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / pathology*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Prognosis
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stromal Cells / pathology*