A circulating tumor cell cluster-based model for tumor metastasis (Hypothesis)

  • Authors:
    • Yupeng Hong
    • Ziduo Li
    • Qi Zhang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: November 7, 2016     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.5358
  • Pages: 4891-4895
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Metastasis is the major cause of mortality in patients with malignancies; however, the mechanisms of tumor cell dissemination and metastasis formation are obscure. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are believed to be a critical step for distant metastasis and are associated with a poor patient prognosis. The precise processes of metastasis formation from CTCs are vague. In the present study, we hypothesize that two CTC cluster‑based mechanisms of tumor cell inoculation in ectopic organs may be viable: i) Formation of a micro‑cancer embolus due to interception of CTC clusters by small vessels; and ii) formation of micrometastasis in an extravasation‑dependent or ‑independent manner. Pathological evidence of micro‑cancer emboli is critical for the verifications of this hypothesis. If proved true, this hypothesis will provide a novel perspective for cancer metastasis and has valuable clinical implications.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

December-2016
Volume 12 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Hong Y, Li Z and Zhang Q: A circulating tumor cell cluster-based model for tumor metastasis (Hypothesis). Oncol Lett 12: 4891-4895, 2016
APA
Hong, Y., Li, Z., & Zhang, Q. (2016). A circulating tumor cell cluster-based model for tumor metastasis (Hypothesis). Oncology Letters, 12, 4891-4895. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.5358
MLA
Hong, Y., Li, Z., Zhang, Q."A circulating tumor cell cluster-based model for tumor metastasis (Hypothesis)". Oncology Letters 12.6 (2016): 4891-4895.
Chicago
Hong, Y., Li, Z., Zhang, Q."A circulating tumor cell cluster-based model for tumor metastasis (Hypothesis)". Oncology Letters 12, no. 6 (2016): 4891-4895. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.5358