Prostate Cancer: Dissecting Out Metastasis

Tumor cell intravasation, the entry of aggressive cells into the blood vessels, is an early step in the complex metastatic process. To explore the mechanisms governing intravasation, Conn et al isolated high and low dissemination variants of a prostate carcinoma cell line. The cell line more prone to dissemination had increased angiogenic potential, and these cells were more migratory and invasive. Highly metastatic cells also produced more of the serine protease uPA. By inhibiting uPA activation, invasion, angiogenesis, and intravasation were all blocked.

Drs. Deryugina, Quigley, and colleagues conclude that "a comparative analysis of these congenic variants has indicated important functional roles for VEGF secretion and uPA activation in facilitating tumor cell intravasation and has indicated a potential direct link between tumor-induced angiogenesis and tumor cell intravasation."