Role of endothelial cell junctions in transendothelial cancer cell migration. A review

Abstract

During metastasis, tumour cells must become migratory and travel towards a capillary within the tumour. They then degrade the matrix surrounding the pericytes and endothelial cells, insert themselves between endothelial cells, transverse the capillary wall, to then enter the blood stream. This process depends on the motile behaviour of the tumour cells as well as the role of endothelial cell-cell junctions, both including adherens junctions and tight junctions. Circulating tumour cells must next, adhere to the walls of the capillary at the site of secondary tumour formation. Here, they again traverse the capillary wall to enter tissues distant from the primary tumour. This review aim to discuss the basic architecture of the endothelial junctional complex as well as the role played by these components towards the transendothelial migration of cancer cells from the primary site to the secondary site. Proper understanding of the role played by each of these components could invariably lead to the development of novel adjuvant cancer chemotherapy.