[New directions in research on cancer metastases: molecular biological approaches].
Cancer metastasis is a multistep process related to various factors (genes). One objective of research on cancer metastasis is to identify factors responsible for each of these steps and to evaluate the weight of each factor in the entire metastatic process. Molecular biological approaches are increasingly used in the field of research on cancer metastasis to identify and analyze each factor, at the gene level. Oncogenes, such as ras, N-myc, c-myc, sis, erb B, and fos, are reported as candidate genes related to metastasis. Other candidate genes, such as MHC, cadherin, laminin, and actin have already been cloned and sequenced. By reviewing molecular biological approaches to metastasis, present issues and directions of research on metastasis will be discussed.
Taniguchi
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S
Dept. of Experimental Cell Research, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Baba
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T
D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D002459:Cell Fusion; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009857:Oncogenes; D014162:Transfection
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules