title: Tumor microenvironment: The culprit for ovarian cancer metastasis?
abstract: Despite chemotherapy and surgical debulking options, ovarian cancer recurs and disseminates frequently, with poor prognosis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ovarian cancer metastasis still remain unelucidated. The tumor microenvironment, consisting of stromal cells (including fibroblasts, macrophages, regulatory T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, endothelial cells, pericytes and platelets), the extracellular matrix component (EMC) (including inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, matrix metalloproteinases, integrins, and other secreted molecules) and exosomes (small extracellular vesicles loaded with molecules), establishes an autocrine-paracrine communication circuit that reinforces invasion and cancer cell metastasis via reciprocal signaling. Recent evidences have unraveled the significant contribution of tumor microenvironment to ovarian cancer metastasis. In this review, we provide a comprehensive landscape of the reciprocity between tumor stroma and ovarian cancer cells upon metastasis, aiming to offer novel clues on the development of novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for ovarian cancer in future clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Obstetrics & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital and The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
authors.forename: Zhongyue
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
authors.forename: Qiu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, USA.
authors.forename: Wayne Bond
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Santa Clara Medical Center, Affiliate of Stanford University, USA.
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
authors.forename: Lian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Obstetrics & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital and The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
authors.forename: Linjie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
authors.forename: Huiliang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Obstetrics & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital and The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Obstetrics & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital and The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
authors.forename: Yanfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Obstetrics & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital and The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
authors.forename: Lingzi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
authors.forename: Chenlu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Obstetrics & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital and The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Obstetrics & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital and The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Obstetrics & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital and The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
authors.forename: Yuquan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Obstetrics & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital and The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China. Electronic address: taotaovip2005@163.com.
authors.forename: Shengtao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D002465:Cell Movement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
keywords: Exosomes; Extracellular matrix component; Ovarian cancer metastasis; Stromal cells; Tumor microenvironment