Metastasis Suppressor Mechanisms in Cancer Progression
Summary
Cancer metastasis arises through a cascade of cellular events that enable primary tumour cells to invade surrounding tissues, survive transit through the circulation and colonise distant organs. Metastasis suppressor genes provide intrinsic barriers at multiple steps in this cascade without impeding growth of the primary neoplasm. Mechanisms include modulation of cytoskeletal dynamics and cell–cell adhesion to hinder motility, regulation of membrane trafficking to attenuate pro-invasive signalling, maintenance of mitochondrial integrity to limit metabolic plasticity, and engagement of immune surveillance to eliminate disseminated cells. At the molecular level, suppressors often act through enzymatic activities—such as nucleoside diphosphate kinase function—to regulate GTPase signalling, or as scaffolds coordinating actin remodelling at the cortex and adherens junctions. Epigenetic and post-translational modifications further fine-tune their activity, while crosstalk with tumour microenvironment and immune effectors amplifies their impact. Understanding these multifaceted controls is essential for devising therapies that re-establish suppressor function and block metastatic spread.
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Metastasis Suppressor Mechanisms in Cancer Progression publication trend
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Technical terms
Metastasis suppressor gene: A gene whose normal function inhibits the spread of cancer cells to distant sites without affecting primary tumour growth.
Nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK): An enzyme that transfers phosphate groups to maintain cellular pools of nucleoside triphosphates and regulates GTPase-mediated signalling.
Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT): A process by which epithelial cells lose adhesion and acquire motile, mesenchymal characteristics, facilitating invasion.
I-BAR domain: A protein module that senses or induces membrane curvature and recruits actin-remodelling factors at the cell cortex.
References
- Mechanisms of action of NME metastasis suppressors – a family affair. Cancer and Metastasis Reviews (2023).
- MTSS1: beyond the integration of actin and membrane dynamics. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences (2024).
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