Recent advances in breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1

Abstract

Metastasis is a complex process divided into a number of steps including detachment of tumor cells from the primary tumor, invasion, migration, intravasation, survival in the vasculature, extravasation, and colonization of the secondary site. Proteins that block metastasis without inhibiting primary tumor formation are known as metastasis suppressors; examples are NM23, Maspin, KAI1, KISS1, and MKK4. Breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1 (BRMS1) was identifed as a suppressor of breast cancer metastasis in the late 1990s. In vitro and in vivo studies have confrmed that BRMS1 is a potent metastasis suppressor not limited to breast cancer. However, conficting clinical observations regarding its role as a metastasis suppressor and its validity as a diagnostic biomarker warrant more in-depth clinical study. In this review, the authors provide an overview of its biology, function, action mechanism and pathological signifcance. © 2011 Wichtig Editore.