Descot Arnaud, Oskarsson Thordur
Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany.
Exp Cell Res. 2013 Jul 1;319(11):1679-86. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2013.04.017. Epub 2013 May 21.
In cancer, the microenvironment plays an important role of supporting the outgrowth of new tumors in distant organs i.e. the formation of metastasis. The interplay between cancer cells and the host stroma leads to generation of an active microenvironment termed a metastatic niche that effectively supports cancer progression and outgrowth of metastasis. The generation and development of the niche is intricately linked to cancer progression. Metastatic niches are highly dynamic interactions that can be forged by diverse mechanisms and continue to develop as the cancer progresses. The composition of the niche is increasingly being characterized and new niche components are being identified. The extracellular matrix (ECM), secreted enzymes, growth factors, cytokines and other molecules that carry information to cancer cells are essential parts of the metastatic niche. The sources of this molecular milieu are multiple cell types - local or recruited to the site of metastasis - and in some cases the cancer cells themselves. To understand metastatic progression it is essential to dissect the niche composition and identify the sources of niche components. With future analyses of the metastatic niche, significant opportunities can arise to identify novel targets for cancer therapy. Targeting the metastatic niche may be essential to treat and inhibit the progression of metastasis.
在癌症中，微环境在支持远处器官新肿瘤的生长即转移形成方面发挥着重要作用。癌细胞与宿主基质之间的相互作用导致产生一种活跃的微环境，称为转移小生境，它有效地支持癌症进展和转移灶的生长。小生境的产生和发展与癌症进展密切相关。转移小生境是高度动态的相互作用，可通过多种机制形成，并随着癌症进展而持续发展。小生境的组成越来越多地得到表征，新的小生境成分也在不断被识别。细胞外基质（ECM）、分泌的酶、生长因子、细胞因子和其他向癌细胞传递信息的分子是转移小生境的重要组成部分。这种分子环境的来源是多种细胞类型——局部的或被招募到转移部位的——在某些情况下癌细胞本身也是来源。为了理解转移进展，剖析小生境组成并识别小生境成分的来源至关重要。随着对转移小生境的进一步分析，有可能出现识别癌症治疗新靶点的重大机遇。靶向转移小生境可能对于治疗和抑制转移进展至关重要。
