The emerging molecular machinery and therapeutic targets of metastasis.
Metastasis is a 100-year-old research topic. Technological advances during the past few decades have led to significant progress in our understanding of metastatic disease. However, metastasis remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortalities. The lack of appropriate clinical trials for metastasis preventive drugs and incomplete understanding of the molecular machinery are major obstacles in metastasis prevention and treatment. Numerous processes, factors, and signaling pathways are involved in regulating metastasis. Here we discuss recent progress in metastasis research, including epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity, cancer stem cells, emerging molecular determinants and therapeutic targets, and the link between metastasis and therapy resistance.
Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Electronic address: ysun2@mdanderson.org.
Yutong
Y
Sun
Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Cancer Biology Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Genes and Development Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Electronic address: lma4@mdanderson.org.
Li
L
Ma
D000818:Animals; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
cancer stem cell; circulating tumor cell; epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity; metastasis; therapy resistance