Metastatic Process (metastatic + process)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Identification and Characterisation of a Platelet GPIb/V/IX-like Complex on Human Breast Cancers: Implications for the Metastatic Process

CANCER SCIENCE, Issue 10 2001
Catherine M. Suter
The glycoprotein (GP) Ib/V/IX receptor complex is an important adhesion molecule, originally thought to be unique to the megakaryocytic lineage. Recent evidence now indicates that GPIb/V/IX may be more widely expressed. In this study we report the presence of all subunits of the complex on four breast cancer cell lines, and 51/80 primary breast tumours. The surface expression of GPIb/V/IX was confirmed by flow cytometry, and by immunoprecipitation of biotin surface-labelled tumour cells. Western blotting of cell lysates under reducing conditions revealed that tumour cell-GPIba had a relative molecular weight of 95 kDa as compared to 135 kDa on platelets. Despite the discrepant protein size, molecular analyses on the tumour cell-GPIba subunit using RT-PCR and DNA sequencing revealed 100% sequence homology to platelet GPIba. Tumour cell-GPIb/V/IX was capable of binding human von Willebrand factor (vWf), and this binding caused aggregation of tumour cells in suspension. Tumour cells bound to immobilised vWf in the presence of EDTA and demonstrated prominent filapodial extensions indicative of cytoskeletal reorganisation. Furthermore, in a modified Boyden chamber assay, prior exposure to vWf or a GPIba monoclonal antibody, AK2, enhanced cell migration. The presence of a functional GPIb/V/IX-like complex in tumour cells suggests that this complex may participate in the process of haematogenous breast cancer metastasis [source]


Clinical and biological significance of CXCR5 expressed by prostate cancer specimens and cell lines

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 10 2009
Shailesh Singh
Abstract Chemokines and chemokine receptors have been shown to be involved in metastatic process of prostate cancer (PCa). In this study, we show primary PCa tissues and cell lines (LNCaP and PC3) express CXCR5, a specific chemokine receptor for CXCL13. Expression of CXCR5 was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in PCa cases than compared to normal match (NM) tissues. CXCR5 intensity correlated (R2 = 0.97) with Gleason score. While prostate tumor tissues with Gleason scores , 7, displayed predominantly nuclear CXCR5 expression patterns, PCa specimens with Gleason scores , 6 showed predominantly membrane and cytoplasmic expression patterns that were comparable to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Similar to tissue expression, PCa cell lines expressed significantly more CXCR5 than normal prostatic epithelial cells (PrECs), and CXCR5 expression was distributed among intracellular and extracellular compartments. Functional in vitro assays showed higher migratory and invasive potentials toward CXCL13, an effect that was mediated by CXCR5. In both PCa cell lines, CXCL13 treatment increased the expression of collagenase-1 or matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), collagenase-3 (MMP-13), stromelysin-1 (MMP-3), stromelysin-2 (MMP-10) and stromelysin-3 (MMP-11). These data demonstrate the clinical and biological relevance of the CXCL13-CXCR5 pathway and its role in PCa cell invasion and migration. © 2009 UICC [source]


Chemokine receptor expression in non-melanoma skin cancer

JOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 7 2008
Jeff Basile
Background:, Previous studies suggest that chemokines and chemokine receptors have a role in the metastatic process. A correlation exists between the specific expression of these chemoattractive, pro-inflammatory cytokines and the ability of cancer to disseminate. Prior studies have shown that in metastatic melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck upregulation of CXC (,) chemokine receptor (CXCR)4 and CC (,) chemokine receptor (CCR)7 expression is accompanied by downregulation of the chemokine receptor CCR6. However, the expression patterns of CCR6, CCR7 and CXCR4 in non-melanoma skin cancer have yet to be elucidated. Methods:, The expression patterns of CCR6, CCR7 and CXCR4 were determined using an immunohistochemical approach on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded normal, pre-cancerous actinic (solar) keratosis, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma tissues. Results:, Analysis of chemokine receptor expression showed downregulation of CCR6 and upregulation of CCR7 and CXCR4 in potentially metastatic non-melanoma skin cancer, invasive squamous cell carcinoma, but this pattern did not exist in non-melanoma skin cancer with no metastatic potential, basal cell carcinoma; or actinic keratosis, when compared with normal skin. Conclusions:, Chemokine receptor expression may influence the biological behavior of non-melanoma skin cancer. The exact mechanism by which this occurs requires further study. [source]


Antiangiogenic drugs: Current knowledge and new approaches to cancer therapy

JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 10 2008
Jose L. Mauriz
Abstract Angiogenesis,process of new blood-vessel growth from existing vasculature,is an integral part of both normal developmental processes and numerous pathologies such as cancer, ischemic diseases and chronic inflammation. Angiogenesis plays a crucial role facilitating tumour growth and the metastatic process, and it is the result of a dynamic balance between proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors. The potential to block tumour growth and metastases by angiogenesis inhibition represents an intriguing approach to the cancer treatment. Angiogenesis continues to be a topic of major scientific interest; and there are currently more antiangiogenic drugs in cancer clinical trials than those that fit into any other mechanistic category. Based on preclinical studies, researchers believe that targeting the blood vessels which support tumour growth could help treatment of a broad range of cancers. Angiogenic factors or their receptors, endothelial cell proliferation, matrix metalloproteinases or endothelial cell adhesion, are the main targets of an increasing number of clinical trials approved to test the tolerance and therapeutic efficacy of antiangiogenic agents. Unfortunately, contrary to initial expectations, it has been described that antiangiogenic treatment can cause different toxicities in cancer patients. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of current attempts to inhibit tumour angiogenesis for cancer therapy. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 97:4129,4154, 2008 [source]


Matrix metalloproteinases in tumor invasion: Role for cell migration

PATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2002
Kazuki Nabeshima
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) play a role in a wide range of tumorigenesis, including early carcinogenesis events, tumor growth and tumor invasion and metastasis. Given that the ability of tumor cells to infiltrate and disseminate widely is what makes the tumors malignant, a role of MMP in cell migration during this invasive and metastatic process is important. There are two types of cancer cell migration: single cell locomotion and cohort migration (cell movement en mass keeping cell,cell contact, which is frequently seen in better differentiated carcinomas). Cell surface localization and activation of MMP is essential for cells to migrate, through rearrangement of extracellular matrix (ECM) to suit cell migration. Certain MMP, such as gelatinases and membrane -type 1 MMP, have special mechanisms to localize at leading edges in both types of cell migration. Moreover, in cohort migration, expression of these MMP is regulated via cell,cell contact within migrating cell sheets and confined to the foremost pathfinder cells of the migrating cell sheets. New roles of cell surface MMP, such as cleavage of cell surface receptors or cofactors involved in cell,ECM interactions during cell migration, are also discussed. [source]


Role of Nitric Oxide in the Development of Distant Metastasis From Squamous Cell Carcinoma,

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 2 2007
Richard L. Scher MD
Abstract Background: Metastasis, the dissemination of malignant cells to distant sites, remains one of the most significant factors responsible for death from cancer. Recent studies have shown some improvement in the rate of distant metastasis (DM) with the addition of chemotherapy to surgery and radiation for treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, diagnosis and treatment at an early stage ultimately leads to a better prognosis. The prediction of which patients will develop metastasis and the selection of treatment most effective at preventing and treating metastasis remains dependent on an incomplete understanding of prognostic factors and the biological and molecular basis for metastatic development. This study was undertaken using an in vivo model to investigate the possible role of nitric oxide (NO) in the development of metastasis from HNSCC. The findings will result in better understanding of the metastatic process for HNSCC, with the potential to develop and implement therapies that could prevent and treat metastasis in patients. Objectives/Hypothesis: 1) To analyze whether in vivo videomicroscopy (IVVM) is useful for the study of DM from squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck; 2) with use of IVVM, investigate the effect of the biological mediators NO and interleukin (IL)-1 on the adhesion of circulating human HNSCC cells in the hepatic microcirculation. Study Design: Prospective study using an animal model. Methods: Phase 1: athymic nude rats and mice were used for IVVM experiments. The cremaster muscle and liver, used as arterial and venous flow models, were tested to determine whether IVVM was useful for the study of human HNSCC interactions with the microcirculation. A human squamous cell carcinoma cell line (FaDu) labeled with the intracytoplasmic fluorescent marker BCECF-am. was used for all experiments. Videomicroscopic images of FaDu cells in the microcirculation were analyzed for cell adhesion, morphology, deformation, circulation, location of adhesion within the microcirculation, and alteration of microvascular circulation. Phase 2: the effect of IL-1, NO, and NO inhibitors on HNSCC cell adhesion in the hepatic microcirculation of nude mice was analyzed by IVVM. This was followed by histologic determination of the ratio of FaDu cells present for liver area analyzed. Nude mice were treated with 1) IL-1; 2) L-arginine (an NO substrate); or 3) L-N-monomethyl-L-arginine (an NO synthase inhibitor) alone or in combination. These data were analyzed statistically to determine the effect on cell adhesion in the liver. Results: IVVM provided a method for the study of circulating HNSCC with the microcirculation in both the cremaster and liver models. FaDu cells were arrested at the inflow side of the circulation, with maintenance of cell integrity. L-arginine and IL-1 both increased FaDu cell arrest in the liver above baseline (P = .00008 and P = .03), and the combination of these agents potentiated the effect (P = .000009). Conclusions: IVVM allows direct assessment of circulating HNSCC with the microcirculation and is a powerful model for the study of DM. NO and IL-1 play a role in increasing the arrest of HNSCC in the liver and are important in the generation of DM in patients with HNSCC. [source]


ABH and Lewis histo-blood group antigens in cancer

APMIS, Issue 1 2001
JACQUES LE PENDU
Antigens of the ABH and Lewis histo-blood group family can be found on many normal cells, mainly of epithelial type. In carcinomas, altered expression of the various carbohydrate epitopes of this family occur, and are often strongly associated with either a good or bad prognosis. A review of the available data on these tumor-associated markers, their biosynthesis and their prognostic value is proposed here. For a long time it has been unclear whether their presence could affect the behavior of carcinoma cells. Recent data, however, indicate that they play biological roles in the course of tumor progression. The presence of sialyl-Lea or sialyl-Lex, which are ligands for selectins, promotes the metastatic process by facilitating interaction with the endothelium of distant organs. The loss of A and B antigens increases cellular motility, while the presence of H epitopes increases resistance to apoptosis by mechanisms that remain to be defined. The Ley antigen has procoagulant and angiogenic activities. All these observations are used to present a model that may account for the described associations between the presence or loss of these markers and the outcome of disease. Finally, their potential clinical applicaitons as tumor-associated markers or as targets of immunotherapy are reviewed. [source]


Patterns of spread in an orthotopic mouse model of bladder cancer

BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2006
J.P. BRENNAN
Purpose:, To develop an orthotopic model of muscle-invasive transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder which models primary tumour growth and metastasis. Methodology:, Cell lines were derived from the TCC cell line T24 (Tsu-Pr1) using in vivo selection for metastatic ability (Chaffer et al. Clin Exp Metastasis 2005; 22(2): 115,25). Each of these cell lines (Tsu-Pr1 and sub-lines, B1 and B2) was then injected intramurally into the mouse bladder wall (n = 25 × 3). The cell lines were also injected intravesically and intraperitoneally (n = 15 × 3 in each group). Results:, There were no differences between the three sub-lines in primary tumour formation, presence of macroscopic metastases and survival. This model produced more macroscopic and lymph node metastases in comparison with other orthotopic models reported in the literature. After intraperitoneal injection, the B2 cell line produced a higher number of discrete intra-abdominal masses in comparison with the parental line. This is likely to be related to the phenotype of the cells with parental cells being more mesenchymal, versus the B2 sub-line, which has more epithelial characteristics. Conclusion:, The TSU-Pr1 series is a useful, clinically relevant model of muscle-invasive TCC. In addition, this model may also provide insights into the role of mesenchymal-epithelial transition in the metastatic process. [source]


Mammary serine protease inhibitor inhibits epithelial growth factor-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition of esophageal carcinoma cells

CANCER, Issue 1 2009
Zhen Cai PhD
Abstract BACKGROUND: By using proteomic technology, the authors previously observed the substantial down-regulation of mammary serine protease inhibitor (maspin) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and metastases. In the current study, they examined the effects of maspin re-expression in a maspin-null esophageal cancer cell line EC109 and also investigated the underlying mechanism. METHODS: A cell line with stable maspin expression was established. An epithelial growth factor (EGF)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) model was used to mimic some aspects of the metastatic process in vitro. The effects of maspin reintroduction on EGF-induced EMT and cell growth characteristics were evaluated. Comparative proteomic analysis of transfected cells versus parental cells was then performed to explore the potential mechanism. RESULTS: The introduction of maspin into EC109 cells was able to inhibit EGF-induced EMT and altered cell growth characteristics, including the serum dependence, proliferative response to EGF stimulation, and colony formation ability in soft agar, indicating a conversion from a malignant phenotype to a benign phenotype. Proteomic analysis revealed a significant down-regulation of a group of glycolytic enzymes in maspin-transfected cells. In addition, maspin-transfected cells expressed much lower levels of hypoxia-inducible factor 1, than parental cells or empty vector transfected cells. CONCLUSIONS: Maspin exhibited a metastasis-suppressive effect, which may be a consequence of the reversal of the malignant phenotype of EC109 cells. The switch of cellular metabolic phenotype to low glycolysis by the gain of maspin function may play a key role in the process. This finding provides additional evidence of the tumor metastasis-suppressive activity of maspin and may indicate a new direction for future studies of the mechanism of maspin. Cancer 2009. © 2008 American Cancer Society. [source]


HER2 status in patients with breast carcinoma is not modified selectively by preoperative chemotherapy and is stable during the metastatic process

CANCER, Issue 8 2002
Anne Vincent-Salomon M.D.
Abstract BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to determine whether HER2 expression levels in breast carcinomas were modified by chemotherapy or during the metastatic process. METHODS HER2 expression was analyzed on sequential tissue specimens taken from the primary tumor before patients received preoperative chemotherapy (CT) and from post-CT residual breast tumor or at a metastatic site. The first group of patients included 59 women who presented with T2,T4,N1,N2 breast carcinoma and were treated by preoperative anthracycline-based CT and then underwent surgery. The second group included 44 patients with metastatic breast carcinoma localized to the lung (27 patients) or to the liver (17 patients). HER2 status was determined by immunohistochemistry using an anti-p185HER/neu monoclonal antibody and was classified as overexpressed or not overexpressed. RESULTS Among the patients who received preoperative CT, HER2 overexpression was observed in 15 of 59 patients (25%). A complete pathologic response was observed in 2 of these 15 patients. HER2 still was overexpressed in 11 of 13 remaining residual tumors and was no longer detectable in 2 tumors. In addition, the 29 tumors with no HER2 overexpression before CT remained negative after treatment. In patients with metastatic breast carcinoma, HER2 was overexpressed in 11 of 44 primary tumors (25%). In 9 of these 11 tumors, HER2 overexpression was maintained in the metastases (9 pulmonary metastases and 4 hepatic metastases). In two patients who had low levels of HER2 overexpression in their primary tumors, no staining was observed in the secondary tumor (one pulmonary tumor and one liver tumor). There were no tumors in which the overexpression of HER2 was found only in the metastasis. CONCLUSIONS The current study showed that, in most patients, HER2 overexpression was unchanged after CT and in metastatic sites. No HER2 negative primary tumors became HER2 positive after patients received CT or during the metastatic process. In a few patients, a diminution in the level of HER2 expression was observed after CT or in secondary tumors. This may have been due to a transitory state of altered tumor cells or to the selection of HER2 negative tumor cells clones. Cancer 2002;94:2169,73. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10456 [source]