Hello all,
It is clear that cancer cells need to migrate within host tissue during metastasis, but they face the extracellular matrix as a physical barrier. Is it necessary for them to degrade the extracellular matrix during extravasation? I mean is there any other possible scenario for cells to pass the extracellular matrix? Or some physical or structural features of ECM, pore size, or dynamics, for example, may promote extravasation?
Thanks.
Cancer cells can probably undergo extravasation without need to degrade extracellular matrix but I am sure they need the capacity to degrade extracellular matrix to some extent in order to get to the vessels and penetrate them (intravasation). Look at the drawings in the following manuscript in order to make the concept a little more clear; Working Paper METASTASIS PREVENTION WITH REPURPOSED DRUGS
Best regards
Cancer cells can probably undergo extravasation without need to degrade extracellular matrix but I am sure they need the capacity to degrade extracellular matrix to some extent in order to get to the vessels and penetrate them (intravasation). Look at the drawings in the following manuscript in order to make the concept a little more clear; Working Paper METASTASIS PREVENTION WITH REPURPOSED DRUGS
Best regards
Depends the kind of cancer:
Cellular invasion depends on cooperation between adhesive and proteolytic mechanisms. A single cell-surface receptor may regulate both matrix degradation and motility, thereby facilitating directed cellular invasion. In some cases MMP's (principal) and stromelysins degrade the ECM, but affected directly by caliber of vessels, flux of the vessel, irrigation and tissue naive; as weell as, co-morblities and prescripted drugs.
Whenever a malignant cell gets access to a blood or lymphatic vessel - just by chance - it will be able to metastasize, independent of the interaction with he extracellular matrix.
I am sorry to disagree with Dr Doerr. The fact that a cell gets to a vessel is not a synonim of metastasis. The cell needs to be prepared for metastasis. Not all circulating malignant cells are capable to metastasize. Millions of malignant cells may circulate and very few can constitute a colonization for a metastasis.
For cancer cells both migration and invasion are key regulator. these two processes are independent, cells don't degrade ECM in migration.
Dear Sanjay
Migrstion and secretion of metalloprpteases are not fully independent. Both are related with phosphorylation of cortactin by Src.
Once cortacton is activated it produces polymerization of actin fibers essential for migration and at the same time cortactin modulates MMPs release to the ectracellular matrix (ECM degradation).
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