Tumor Phagocytes Promote Breast Cancer Invasion and Metastasis
Abstract
The origins of the invasive and metastatic phenotypes of breast carcinoma cells is a central unresolved question in cancer biology. Whereas some current ideas suggest that metastatic phenotypes are cell-autonomous lesions specified by the genomes of cancer cells, other views propose that metastatic traits are acquired through exposure of epithelial cells to paracrine signals from the tumor-associated microenvironment. The major hypothesis in this DOD concept application is that phagocytosis of apoptotic breast cancer cells (BCCs) by tumor phagocytes will stimulate the production and secretion of immune modulating factors, chemokines, and angiogenic and metastatic factors in a paracrine manner that change the tumor microenvironment in favor of invasion and metastasis. Although apoptotic cell phagocytosis (called efferocytosis) is often overlooked as a passive physiological event to clear unwanted cells, we hypothesize that clearance of apoptotic tumor cells by tumor phagocytes produce soluble factors that act as the principal priming signals for angiogenesis and metastasis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 14, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA541061
Entities
People
- Raymond B. Birge
Organizations
- University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey