Abstract
Invasion, or directed migration of tumor cells into adjacent tissues, is one of the hallmarks of cancer and the first step towards metastasis. Penetrating to adjacent tissues, tumor cells form the so-called invasive front/edge. The cellular plasticity afforded by different kinds of phenotypic transitions (epithelial–mesenchymal, collective–amoeboid, mesenchymal–amoeboid, and vice versa) significantly contributes to the diversity of cancer cell invasion patterns and mechanisms. Nevertheless, despite the advances in the understanding of invasion, it is problematic to identify tumor cells with the motile phenotype in cancer tissue specimens due to the absence of reliable and acceptable molecular markers. In this review, we summarize the current information about molecules such as extracellular matrix components, factors of epithelial–mesenchymal transition, proteases, cell adhesion, and actin cytoskeleton proteins involved in cell migration and invasion that could be used as invasive markers and discuss their advantages and limitations. Based on the reviewed data, we conclude that future studies focused on the identification of specific invasive markers should use new models one of which may be the intratumor morphological heterogeneity in breast cancer reflecting different patterns of cancer cell invasion.
Highlights
Metastasis is a key feature of cancer and a “final chord” of the tumor progression [1]
Metastasis is a complex process of stepwise events collectively termed the metastatic cascade and consisting of local invasion of tumor cells, intravasation to blood vessels, survival in the circulation, arrest at distant organs, extravasation into the parenchyma of distant tissues, micrometastasis formation, and metastatic colonization [1,2]
Invasion is a key event towards the acquisition of the metastatic phenotype by tumor cells and an attractive target for anticancer therapy aimed at the prevention of metastasis
Summary
Metastasis is a key feature of cancer and a “final chord” of the tumor progression [1]. Despite the fact that the mechanisms and types of cell migration and invasion have been described and studied quite well, there are currently no highly efficient and validated molecular markers for identification of migrating/invading tumor cells in tumors and, for assessment of their invasive potential. These markers could be used to identify patients at the high risk of distant metastasis and to prescribe therapy aimed at interrupting the metastatic process. We systematized information about molecules that might be potential markers of tumor invasion and discussed the advantages and limitations of their use in clinical practice
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