The role of the organ microenvironment in the biology and therapy of cancer metastasis.
By the time of diagnosis, primary neoplasms are biologically heterogeneous and contain subpopulations of cells with different metastatic potentials. The pathogenesis of a metastasis consists of many sequential steps that must be completed to produce clinically relevant lesions. During any of these steps, tumor cells interact with host factors in the microenvironment that the tumor cells can usurp. Treatment of metastasis can be directed against tumor cells and/or microenvironmental factors that support tumor growth, such as tumor-associated blood vessels.
Fidler
Isaiah J
IJ
Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. ifidler@mdanderson.org
Kim
Sun-Jin
SJ
Langley
Robert R
RR
D000818:Animals; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic
D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D007371:Interferon-gamma