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PMID: 12013533 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Review

Genetic basis of human breast cancer metastasis.

Journal of mammary gland biology and neoplasia ·Vol. 6 ·No. 4 ·2001-10-00 ·Pages 441-51

Debies MT, Welch DR

Abstract

Once cancer cells have spread and formed secondary masses, breast cancers are largely incurable even with state-of-the-art medicine. To improve diagnosis and therapy, better markers are needed to distinguish cells which have a high probability for causing clinically relevant, macroscopic metastases. In this review, we summarize the several genes that regulate breast cancer metastasis. Two categories of genes are presented--metastasis activator (ras, MEK1, mta1, proteinases, adhesion molecules, chemoattractants/receptors, autotaxin, PKC, S100A4, RhoC, osteopontin) and metastasis suppressor (Nm23, E-cadherin, TIMPs, KiSS1, Kai1, Maspin, MKK4, BRMS1). While the mechanisms of action for most of these genes are not fully elucidated, some clues are emerging and are presented.

MeSH Terms
Breast Neoplasms/genetics Female Humans Neoplasm Metastasis/genetics
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Debies M T
Jake Gittlen Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey 17033-0850, USA.
Welch D R
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Article Info
Journal
Journal of mammary gland biology and neoplasia
Abbr.
J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia
ISSN
1083-3021
DOI
10.1023/a:1014739131690
Published
2001-10-00
Pages
441-51
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
9601804
Subset
IM
Grants
NCI NIH HHS · CA62168 · United States
NCI NIH HHS · CA88728 · United States
NCI NIH HHS · CA90991 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1023/a:1014739131690 View journal details
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