Site-Specific Metastasis - a Cooperation Between Cancer Cells and the Metastatic Microenvironment.

The conclusion derived from the information provided in this review is that disseminating tumor cells (DTC) collaborate with the microenvironment of a future metastatic organ site in the establishment of organ-specific metastasis. We review the basic principles of site-specific metastasis and the contribution of the cross talk between DTC and the microenvironment of metastatic sites (metastatic microenvironment - MME) to: the establishment of the organ-specific pre-metastatic niche; the targeted migration of DTC to the endothelium of the future organ-specific metastasis; the transmigration of DTC to this site and the seeding and colonization of DTC in their future MME. We also discuss the role played by DTC-MME interactions on tumor dormancy and on the differential response of tumor cells residing in different MMEs to anti-tumor therapy. Finally, we summarize some studies dealing with the effects of the MME on a unique site-specific metastasis - brain metastasis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.