Work

Orchestration of Collective Migration and Metastasis by Tumor Cell Clusters

Year: 2022

Type: review

Abstract: Metastatic dissemination has lethal consequences for cancer patients. Accruing evidence supports the hypothesis that tumor cells can migrate and metastasize as clusters of cells while maintaining contacts with one another. Collective metastasis enables tumor cells to colonize secondary sites more efficiently, resist cell death, and evade the immune system. On the other hand, tumor cell clusters face unique challenges for dissemination particularly during systemic dissemination. Here, we review recent progress toward understanding how tumor cell clusters overcome these disadvantages as well as mechanisms they utilize to gain advantages throughout the metastatic process. We consider useful models for studying collective metastasis and reflect on how the study of collective metastasis suggests new opportunities for eradicating and preventing metastatic disease.

Source: Annual Review of Pathology Mechanisms of Disease

DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-031521-023557

Authors: Ami Yamamoto, Andrea E. Doak, Kevin J. Cheung

Institutions: University of Washington, Fred Hutch Cancer Center

Language: English

Topic: Cancer Cells and Metastasis

Subfield: Oncology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of General Medical Sciences