Not all tumor cells are equal: Huge genetic diversity found in cells shed by tumors

Not all tumor cells are equal: Huge genetic diversity found in cells shed by tumors

open access: Cell–cell and cell–matrix dynamics in intraperitoneal cancer metastasis (ovarian/GI tract cancers)

Cell–cell and cell–matrix dynamics in intraperitonealcancer metastasis

 Abstract/pdf full text:

IntroductionIntraperitoneal dissemination is the primary metastatic route
of ovarian cancers. It is also a common progression for
gastrointestinal malignancies including colorectal, gastric,
and pancreatic cancers.....
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The peritoneal metastatic route of cancer dissemination
is shared by cancers of the ovary and gastrointestinal
tract. Once initiated, peritoneal metastasis typically proceeds
rapidly in a feed-forward manner. Several factors
contribute to this efficient progression. In peritoneal metastasis,
cancer cells exfoliate into the peritoneal fluid and
spread locally, transported by peritoneal fluid. Inflammatory
cytokines released by tumor and immune cells compromise
the protective, anti-adhesive mesothelial cell layer that lines
the peritoneal cavity, exposing the underlying extracellular
matrix to which cancer cells readily attach. The peritoneum
is further rendered receptive to metastatic implantation and
growth by myofibroblastic cell behaviors also stimulated by
inflammatory cytokines. Individual cancer cells suspended
in peritoneal fluid can aggregate to form multicellular spheroids.