Illuminating the metastatic process.
Until recently most studies of metastasis only measured the end point of the process--macroscopic metastases. Although these studies have provided much useful information, the details of the metastatic process remain somewhat mysterious owing to difficulties in studying cell behaviour with high spatial and temporal resolution in vivo. The use of luminescent and fluorescent proteins and developments in optical imaging technology have enabled the direct observation of cancer cells spreading from their site of origin and arriving at secondary sites. This Review will describe recent advances in our understanding of the different steps of metastasis gained from cellular resolution imaging, and how these techniques can be used in preclinical drug evaluation.
Sahai
Erik
E
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PX, UK. erik.sahai@cancer.org.uk
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006801:Humans; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents