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Mol. Cells 2010; 30(2): 93-98

Published online August 19, 2010

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10059-010-0133-9

© The Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology

The Brain Microenvironment and Cancer Metastasis

Isaiah J. Fidler*, Krishnakumar Balasubramanian, Qingtang Lin, Seung Wook Kim, and Sun-Jin Kim

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Cancer Biology, Cancer Metastasis Research Center, Houston, TX, USA

Correspondence to : *Correspondence: ifidler@mdanderson.org

Received: August 16, 2010; Accepted: August 19, 2010

Abstract

The process of metastasis consists of a series of sequential, selective steps that few cells can complete. The outcome of cancer metastasis depends on multiple interactions between metastatic cells and homeostatic mechanisms that are unique to one or another organ microenvironment. The specific organ microenvironment determines the extent of cancer cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion and survival. Many lung cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma patients develop fatal brain metastases that do not respond to therapy. The blood-brain barrier is intact in and around brain metastases that are smaller than 0.25 mm in diameter. Although the blood-brain barrier is leaky in larger metastases, the lesions are resistant to many chemotherapeutic drugs. Activated astrocytes surround and infiltrate brain metastases. The physiological role of astrocytes is to protect against neurotoxicity. Our current data demonstrate that activated astrocytes also protect tumor cells against chemotherapeutic drugs.

Keywords , brain metastasis, organ microenvironment, seed and soil hypothesis

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Mol. Cells 2010; 30(2): 93-98

Published online August 31, 2010 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10059-010-0133-9

Copyright © The Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology.

The Brain Microenvironment and Cancer Metastasis

Isaiah J. Fidler*, Krishnakumar Balasubramanian, Qingtang Lin, Seung Wook Kim, and Sun-Jin Kim

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Cancer Biology, Cancer Metastasis Research Center, Houston, TX, USA

Correspondence to:*Correspondence: ifidler@mdanderson.org

Received: August 16, 2010; Accepted: August 19, 2010

Abstract

The process of metastasis consists of a series of sequential, selective steps that few cells can complete. The outcome of cancer metastasis depends on multiple interactions between metastatic cells and homeostatic mechanisms that are unique to one or another organ microenvironment. The specific organ microenvironment determines the extent of cancer cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion and survival. Many lung cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma patients develop fatal brain metastases that do not respond to therapy. The blood-brain barrier is intact in and around brain metastases that are smaller than 0.25 mm in diameter. Although the blood-brain barrier is leaky in larger metastases, the lesions are resistant to many chemotherapeutic drugs. Activated astrocytes surround and infiltrate brain metastases. The physiological role of astrocytes is to protect against neurotoxicity. Our current data demonstrate that activated astrocytes also protect tumor cells against chemotherapeutic drugs.

Keywords: , brain metastasis, organ microenvironment, seed and soil hypothesis

Mol. Cells
May 31, 2023 Vol.46 No.5, pp. 259~328
COVER PICTURE
The alpha-helices in the lamin filaments are depicted as coils, with different subdomains distinguished by various colors. Coil 1a is represented by magenta, coil 1b by yellow, L2 by green, coil 2a by white, coil 2b by brown, stutter by cyan, coil 2c by dark blue, and the lamin Ig-like domain by grey. In the background, cells are displayed, with the cytosol depicted in green and the nucleus in blue (Ahn et al., pp. 309-318).

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