Master developmental pathways like Notch, Wnt, and Hedgehog are signaling systems that control proliferation, cell death, motility, migration, and stemness. They are commonly activated in many solid tumors, where they drive or contribute to cancer initiation, but also primary and metastatic tumor development. The reactivation of developmental pathways in cancer stroma favors the development of cancer stem cells and allows their maintenance, pointing out these signaling pathways as particularly attractive targets for more efficient anticancer therapies, especially in advanced primary tumors and metastatic cancers. Metastasis, i.e., the colonization of distant organs by tumor cells from a primary site, is the worst feature of cancer development. It results from a cascade of events emerging from hijacking of epithelial–mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, migration and invasion by transforming cells, and is associated with poor survival, drug resistance, and tumor relapse. In this chapter, we summarize and discuss experimental data suggesting pivotal roles for developmental pathways in cancer development and metastasis, considering the therapeutic potential. Emerging targeted antimetastatic therapies based on Notch, Wnt, and Hedgehog pathways are also discussed.
原文链接
分享
引用
