Bases fondamentales du processus métastatique

Abstract

Metastatic process is described as a "dissemination of neoplastic cells in a distant secondary site, in which cells proliferate to develop a mass of cells partially differentiated". The vast majority of death in solid cancers is the consequence of metastasis development which lead to vital organ dysfunction. In the present review, either recent discoveries or controversial subjects associated with metastasis process will be discussed. Indeed epithelia-mesenchymal transition (EMT), circulating tumor cells, tumor dormancy, colonization in distant organ and cancer stem cells are tackled.

Keywords: Cellules tumorales circulantes et cellules souches cancéreuses; Circulating tumor cells and cancer stem cells; Epithelia-mesenchymal transition; Metastasis; Métastase; Transition épithélio-mesenchymateuse.