title: Metastasis-associated factors facilitating the progression of colorectal cancer.
abstract: Tumor metastasis remains the principal cause of treatment failure and poor prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer. It is a multistage process which includes proteolysis, motility and migration of cells, proliferation in a new site, and neoangiogenesis. A crucial step in the process of intra- and extra-vasation is the activation of proteolytic enzymes capable of degrading the extracellular matrix (ECM). In this stage, urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are necessary. Micrometastases need the presence of growth factor and vascular growth factor so that they can form macrometastasis. In addition, cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) play important roles in the progression of colorectal cancer and metastatic migration. Further elucidation of the mechanisms of how these molecules contribute will aid in the identification of diagnostic and prognostic markers as well as therapeutic targets for patients with colorectal metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Yao-Yao
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yan-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases