Editor's Summary
12 April 2007
Zeroing in on metastasis
A group of four genes responsible for the assembly of new tumour blood vessels, for the release of tumour cells into the circulation and for the breaching of lung capillaries by circulating tumour cells to seed pulmonary metastasis has been identified in human breast cancer cells. Individual targeting of these genes — epiregulin, COX2, MMP1 and MMP2 — does not block tumour progression but combined inhibition of all four significantly reduces metastasis in a clinically relevant model of breast cancer. This offers the prospect of designing specific antimetastasis drug combinations that may be effective whatever the nature of the primary tumour.
News and Views: Cancer: Division of labour
Some genes are involved in the development of a new tumour; others specifically promote the dissemination of its cancerous cells to other organs. A set of four genes seems to be required for both processes.
Gerhard Christofori
doi:10.1038/446735a
Article: Mediators of vascular remodelling co-opted for sequential steps in lung metastasis
Gaorav P. Gupta, Don X. Nguyen, Anne C. Chiang, Paula D. Bos, Juliet Y. Kim, Cristina Nadal, Roger R. Gomis, Katia Manova-Todorova & Joan Massagué
doi:10.1038/nature05760
Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,127K) | Supplementary information