Progression of Metastasis through Lymphatic System
Hengbo Zhou,
Pin-ji Lei,
Timothy P. Padera
Affiliations
Hengbo Zhou
Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center, MGH and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA 02114, USA
Pin-ji Lei
Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center, MGH and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA 02114, USA
Timothy P. Padera
Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center, MGH and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA 02114, USA
Lymph nodes are the most common sites of metastasis in cancer patients. Nodal disease status provides great prognostic power, but how lymph node metastases should be treated is under debate. Thus, it is important to understand the mechanisms by which lymph node metastases progress and how they can be targeted to provide therapeutic benefits. In this review, we focus on delineating the process of cancer cell migration to and through lymphatic vessels, survival in draining lymph nodes and further spread to other distant organs. In addition, emerging molecular targets and potential strategies to inhibit lymph node metastasis are discussed.
