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PMID: 22322279 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

Tumor microenvironment: a main actor in the metastasis process.

Clinical & experimental metastasis ·Vol. 29 ·No. 4 ·2012-04-00 ·Pages 381-95

Spano D, Zollo M

Abstract

Over recent decades, various studies have argued that the metastatic tissue microenvironment is fully controlled by the intrinsic properties of the cancer cells (growth, motility and invasion, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, immune escape) and additional cells types. Overall, the extrinsic factors and determinants mediate the contribution of the host microenvironment to metastasis formation. The tumor microenvironment carries out these functions by secretion of molecules that can influence and modulate its phenotype, making these complex interactions the basis for support for the progression of a cancer. Here, we undertake a summary of the "state of the art" of the functions and actions of these cells, as the main actors in the promotion of the formation of the microenvironment of the metastatic niche, and the associated network of interactions. The unraveling of the relationships between tumorigenic cells and their microenvironment represents an important issue for the development of new therapeutic agents that can fight both initiation and recurrence of cancer.

MeSH Terms
Humans Neoplasm Metastasis/immunology,pathology Tumor Microenvironment
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Spano Daniela
Biotecnologie Avanzate, Centro di Ingegneria Genetica, Via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145 Naples, Italy.
Zollo Massimo
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Article Info
Journal
Clinical & experimental metastasis
Abbr.
Clin Exp Metastasis
ISSN
1573-7276
DOI
10.1007/s10585-012-9457-5
Published
2012-04-00
Epub
2012-00-10
Pages
381-95
Language
English
Region
Netherlands
NLM ID
8409970
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1007/s10585-012-9457-5 View journal details
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