Pericellular Proteoglycans and Metastasis Formations: Modulation by Hydrocortisone and Growth Factors

To form metastases, tumor cell have to free themselves from the surrounding tumoral tissue and pass through biological barriers, such as the endothelial cell layers and its underlying basal lamina1,2,3. Before the enzymatic destruction of the tissue barriers, malignant cells had to recognize the vascular endothelial cells and the subendothelial matrix components, and adhere to them4,5,6,7. It is generally accepted that the carbohydrate moieties of proteoglycans and glycoproteins are involved in the regulation of cell recognition, adhesion and differentiation. Alteration of the carbohydrate moieties of these macromolecules, on the cell surface affect developpement of neoplasms, modifying the interaction of the cells with their environment.