How do cancer cells travel through the human body
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Summary
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These studies suggest cancer cells travel through the human body using bodily fluids like blood and lymph, adapting their migration mechanisms, and responding to physical cues and the tumor microenvironment.
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How Cancer Cells Travel Through the Human Body
Metastasis and Bodily Fluids
Cancer cells travel through the human body primarily via the blood and lymphatic systems, exploiting these natural transportation routes to disseminate from the primary tumor to distant sites. The mechanics of bodily fluids, including flow rates, vessel size, and shear stress, play a crucial role in the survival and successful seeding of cancer cells in new locations. These physical forces within the fluids help cancer cells to intravasate (enter the bloodstream), survive in circulation, and extravasate (exit the bloodstream) to form metastases in distant organs.
Migration Mechanisms: Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Amoeboid Movement
Cancer cells can migrate through tissues using various mechanisms. One common method is the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), where cancer cells acquire fibroblast-like properties, enhancing their migratory capabilities. Additionally, some cancer cells move in an amoeboid manner, similar to leukocytes, allowing them to navigate through the extracellular matrix and enter or exit the vasculature. The ability to switch between different migratory mechanisms is critical for cancer cells to relocate from one tissue to another.
Vascular and Lymphatic Systems in Metastasis
The interconnected vascular systems, including blood and lymphatic vessels, are essential for the metastatic spread of cancer cells. Physical cues within these systems, such as mechanical stress and vessel architecture, influence gene expression, cell motility, and survival, facilitating organ-specific metastasis. Tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis, the formation of new lymphatic vessels, is particularly important for early metastasis, as it enables cancer cells to invade regional lymph nodes and spread further.
Modes of Cancer Cell Invasion
Cancer cells invade surrounding tissues and migrate toward the bloodstream in various forms, including single cells, clusters, and collective strands. The tumor microenvironment, particularly the stroma, significantly influences the mode and dynamics of invasion. Cancer cells can migrate as single isolated cells with different shapes or as loosely/non-adherent streams or collective cell strands and sheets. The extracellular matrix (ECM) and its remodeling by proteases like MMP-14 facilitate the creation of microtracks and macrotracks, allowing both individual and collective cancer cell movement.
Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs)
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cancer cells that have detached from the primary tumor and entered the bloodstream or lymphatic system. These cells can travel as single cells or clusters, with clusters having a higher metastatic potential. CTCs hold valuable information about the primary tumor, which can be crucial for cancer diagnosis and treatment . The dynamic expression of epithelial and mesenchymal markers in CTCs reflects their adaptability and metastatic capabilities.
Conclusion
Cancer cells utilize the blood and lymphatic systems to travel through the body, leveraging physical forces and various migratory mechanisms to invade new tissues and form metastases. Understanding these processes provides critical insights into cancer progression and potential therapeutic targets to prevent metastasis.
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