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The brain microenvironment and cancer metastasis

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Molecules and Cells

Abstract

The process of metastasis consists of a series of sequential, selective steps that few cells can complete. The outcome of cancer metastasis depends on multiple interactions between metastatic cells and homeostatic mechanisms that are unique to one or another organ microenvironment. The specific organ microenvironment determines the extent of cancer cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion and survival. Many lung cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma patients develop fatal brain metastases that do not respond to therapy. The blood-brain barrier is intact in and around brain metastases that are smaller than 0.25 mm in diameter. Although the blood-brain barrier is leaky in larger metastases, the lesions are resistant to many chemotherapeutic drugs. Activated astrocytes surround and infiltrate brain metastases. The physiological role of astrocytes is to protect against neurotoxicity. Our current data demonstrate that activated astrocytes also protect tumor cells against chemotherapeutic drugs.

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  1. Department of Cancer Biology, Cancer Metastasis Research Center, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Isaiah J. Fidler, Krishnakumar Balasubramanian, Qingtang Lin, Seung Wook Kim & Sun-Jin Kim

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  1. Isaiah J. Fidler
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  2. Krishnakumar Balasubramanian
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  3. Qingtang Lin
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Correspondence to Isaiah J. Fidler.

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Fidler, I.J., Balasubramanian, K., Lin, Q. et al. The brain microenvironment and cancer metastasis. Mol Cells 30, 93–98 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10059-010-0133-9

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