title: Lymphatic dissemination of tumour cells and the formation of micrometastases.
abstract: Most human cancers show evidence of metastatic spread to regional lymph nodes, and the extent of lymph-node involvement is directly related to dinical outcome. Increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C in primary tumours is associated with increased dissemination of tumour cells to regional lymph nodes in various human carcinomas. Arguments favouring the activation of pre-existing lymphatic endothelium and the de novo formation of lymphatic capillaries (lymphangiogenesis) are discussed. We highlight recent advances in the molecular detection and characterisation of lymph-node micrometastases, as well as potential microenvironmental factors, such as chemokines, which may influence the migration and growth of metastatic tumour cells. Finally, we examine the clinical significance of lymphatic-mediated tumour-cell dissemination and the formation of lymph-node micrometastases.
authors.affiliation: ICRF Translational Oncology Laboratory, Queen Mary University of London, St Bartholomew's Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: Philippe O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Van Trappen
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pepper
mesh_terms: D002465:Cell Movement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity