Actin and Actin-Binding Proteins in Cancer Progression and Metastasis

Abstract

With over 10 million cases and over 5.7 million deaths a year (GLOBOCAN data 2002; Ferlay et al. 2004), cancer presents a major health problem worldwide. Dealing with cancer, both from a clinical and from a fundamental scientific view, is complicated by the extensive diversity within this disease. Based on their origin, more than 100 different human cancer types have been described and, within one organ, distinct subtypes can occur. In addition, tumors may progress to a malignant state that manifests itself mainly when tumor cells spread out from the primary lesion (or neoplasm) and metastasize, i.e., colonize distant sites of the patient’s body. Metastatic cancer, accounts for 90% of cancer-related lethality (Sporn 1996) and hence forms the primary determining factor in patient outcome. Therefore a detailed molecular understanding of tumor cell spread is required to render treatment of cancer more specific and efficient.