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
Correspondence to : *Correspondence: ifidler@mdanderson.org
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 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.
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
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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