Myeloid-derived suppressor cells are implicated in regulating permissiveness for tumor metastasis during mouse gestation.

ABSTRACT: Metastasis depends on the ability of tumor cells to establish a relationship with the newly seeded tissue that is conducive to their survival and proliferation. However, the factors that render tissues permissive for metastatic tumor growth have yet to be fully elucidated. Breast tumors arising during pregnancy display early metastatic proclivity, raising the possibility that pregnancy may constitute a physiological condition of permissiveness for tumor dissemination. Here we have shown that during murine gestation, metastasis is enhanced regardless of tumor type, and that decreased NK cell activity is responsible for the observed increase in experimental metastasis. Gene expression changes in pregnant mouse lung and liver were shown to be similar to those detected in premetastatic sites a

SUBMITTER: Mauti LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3223816 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature