Multi-step cascade of tumor cell metastasis.

The most life-threatening aspects of the oncogenic process are invasion and metastasis. Even though the clinical significance of such expression of the malignant phenotype has been well appreciated, advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in metastasis have been painstakingly slow. To tackle this complex, multi-step problem, investigators have separated invasion and metastasis into a series of defined, sequential steps, and focused on one step at a time. Efforts combining the disciplines of cell biology, protein biochemistry, and molecular genetics have resulted in a surge of new information, suggesting novel strategies for prognosis and therapy of metastatic cancer.