REVIEWCancer metastases: challenges and opportunities
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open access
Graphical abstract
Cancer metastasis is the major cause of cancer morbidity and mortality, and accounts for about 90% of cancer deaths. Limited progress has been made in the treatment of cancer metastasis due to various factors. This review is aimed to provide an overview of the metastasis process and targets for intervention with a focus on cancer cell detachment, migration, invasion and adhesion. It is hoped that this review can serve as a lead for readers who are interested in cancer metastasis and intervention.
Abbreviations
BM
basement membrane
CAFs
cancer-associated fibroblasts
CAMs
cell adhesion molecules
CAT
collective amoeboid transition
CCL2
chemokine (C–C motif) ligand 2
CCR3
chemokine receptor 3
Col
collagen
COX2
cyclooxygenase 2
CSF-1
chemokine colonystimulating factor–1
CTGF
connective tissue growth factor
CXCR2
chemokine receptor type 2
DISC
death-inducing signaling complex
ECM
extracellular matrix
EGF
epidermal growth factor
EGFR
EGF receptor
EMT
epithelial–mesenchymal transition
FAK
focal adhesion kinase
FAs
focal adhesions
FGF
fibroblast growth factor
FN
fibronectin
HA
hyaluronan
HGF
hepatocyte growth factor
HIFs
hypoxia-inducible factors
IKK
IκB kinase
JAK
the Janus kinases
LN
laminin
MAPK
mitogen-activated protein kinase
MAT
mesenchymal to amoeboid transition
MET
mesenchymal–epithelial transition
MMPs
matrix metalloproteinases
PDGF
platelet-derived growth factor
PI3K
phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase
STATs
signal transducers and activators of transcription
TAMs
tumor-associated macrophages
TGF-β
transforming growth factor β
TME
tumor microenvironment
VCAMs
vascular cell adhesion molecules
VEGF
vascular endothelial growth factor
VN
vitronectin
KEY WORDS
Metastasis
Detachment
Migration
Invasion
Adhesion
Cancer
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Peer review under responsibility of Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.
© 2015 Chinese Pharmaceutical Association and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.