The Journey of Cancer Cells to the Brain: Challenges and Opportunities

Overview

Journal Int J Mol Sci

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Chemistry
Molecular Biology

Date 2023 Feb 25

PMID 36835266

Authors

Marzena Lazarczyk

Michel Edwar Mickael

Dominik Skiba

Ewa Kurzejamska

Michal Lawinski

Jaroslaw Olav Horbanczuk

Jakub Radziszewski

Karolina Fraczek

Renata Wolinska

Justyna Paszkiewicz

Piotr Religa

Mariusz Sacharczuk

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cancer metastases into the brain constitute one of the most severe, but not uncommon, manifestations of cancer progression. Several factors control how cancer cells interact with the brain to establish metastasis. These factors include mediators of signaling pathways participating in migration, infiltration of the blood-brain barrier, interaction with host cells (e.g., neurons, astrocytes), and the immune system. Development of novel therapies offers a glimpse of hope for increasing the diminutive life expectancy currently forecasted for patients suffering from brain metastasis. However, applying these treatment strategies has not been sufficiently effective. Therefore, there is a need for a better understanding of the metastasis process to uncover novel therapeutic targets. In this review, we follow the journey of various cancer cells from their primary location through the diverse processes that they undergo to colonize the brain. These processes include EMT, intravasation, extravasation, and infiltration of the blood-brain barrier, ending up with colonization and angiogenesis. In each phase, we focus on the pathways engaging molecules that potentially could be drug target candidates.

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