Mechanisms of Ovarian Cancer Metastasis: Biochemical Pathways

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Kentaro Nakayama¹  Naomi Nakayama²  Hiroshi Katagiri¹ 

[1] Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo 693-8501, Japan; E-Mails:;Department of Biochemistry, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo 693-8501, Japan; E-Mail:

关键词: cancer;    metastasis suppressor gene;    EMT;    tumor microenvironment;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms130911705

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. Despite advances in chemotherapy, the five-year survival rate of advanced ovarian cancer patients with peritoneal metastasis remains around 30%. The most significant prognostic factor is stage, and most patients present at an advanced stage with peritoneal dissemination. There is often no clearly identifiable precursor lesion; therefore, the events leading to metastatic disease are poorly understood. This article reviews metastatic suppressor genes, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and the tumor microenvironment as they relate to ovarian cancer metastasis. Additionally, novel chemotherapeutic agents targeting the metastasis-related biochemical pathways are discussed.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2012 by the authors; licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland.