Co-evolution of breast-to-brain metastasis and neural progenitor cells.

ABSTRACT: Brain colonization by metastatic tumor cells offers a unique opportunity to investigate microenvironmental influences on the neoplastic process. The bi-directional interplay of breast cancer cells (mesodermal origin) and brain cells (neuroectodermal origin) is poorly understood and rarely investigated. In our patients undergoing neurosurgical resection of breast-to-brain metastases, specimens from the tumor/brain interface exhibited increased active gliosis as previously described. In addition, our histological characterization revealed infiltration of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) both outside and inside the tumor margin, leading us to investigate the cellular and molecular interactions between NPCs and metastases. Since signaling by the TGF-β superfamily is involved in both developmenta

SUBMITTER: Neman J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3808473 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature