Chapter category: Cancer Metastasis
Cancer Invasion-Related Genes
Cell Invasion
Edited by: Jyrki Heino and Veli-Matti KähäriISBN: 1-58706-073-6
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Chapter authors:
Anja Bosserhoff and Reinhard Buettner
This review provides a brief overview on gene families involved in invasion. Mechanistically, these molecules are involved in deregulation of adhesive interaction of tumor cells with each other and with extracellular matrices, in synthesis and activation of proteases and other enzymes, and in locomotion of tumor cells and organization of the cytoskeleton. Examples for these gene families and their general role in invasion are discussed.
Conventional therapy of malignant tumors is frequently limited by acquisition of an invasive and metastatic phenotype and progression to a systemic disease. Thus, understanding and manipulating molecular events leading to systemic spread represent major challenges for current cancer research. Invasion involves a highly regulated and coordinated cascade of complex molecular processes including cell attachment, cell detachment, secretion of proteases, cell migration and exchanging signals with other cells in the local milieu. While invasion is regarded as a key signature of malignant tumors, it is also found as part of the normal behavior of inflammatory blood cells, in tissues engaged in morphogenetic movements of normal embryogenesis and in a number of instances of normal and pathological tissue remodeling in the adult. Remarkably different genes involved in invasion have been identified during the past years. Although a few, such as the family of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), have been analyzed in some detail, most of them have been recognized only recently and probably many are yet to be discovered.
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