Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2012, 13(9), 11705-11717; doi:10.3390/ijms130911705
Review

Mechanisms of Ovarian Cancer Metastasis: Biochemical Pathways

Kentaro Nakayama 1,* email, Naomi Nakayama 2 email, Hiroshi Katagiri 1 email and Kohji Miyazaki 1 email
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo 693-8501, Japan 2 Department of Biochemistry, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo 693-8501, Japan
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 4 July 2012; in revised form: 31 August 2012 / Accepted: 3 September 2012 / Published: 18 September 2012
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancer Molecules in Ovarian Cancer 2012)
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Abstract: Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. Despite advances in chemotherapy, the five-year survival rate of advanced ovarian cancer patients with peritoneal metastasis remains around 30%. The most significant prognostic factor is stage, and most patients present at an advanced stage with peritoneal dissemination. There is often no clearly identifiable precursor lesion; therefore, the events leading to metastatic disease are poorly understood. This article reviews metastatic suppressor genes, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and the tumor microenvironment as they relate to ovarian cancer metastasis. Additionally, novel chemotherapeutic agents targeting the metastasis-related biochemical pathways are discussed.
Keywords: cancer; metastasis suppressor gene; EMT; tumor microenvironment

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MDPI and ACS Style

Nakayama, K.; Nakayama, N.; Katagiri, H.; Miyazaki, K. Mechanisms of Ovarian Cancer Metastasis: Biochemical Pathways. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2012, 13, 11705-11717.

AMA Style

Nakayama K, Nakayama N, Katagiri H, Miyazaki K. Mechanisms of Ovarian Cancer Metastasis: Biochemical Pathways. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2012; 13(9):11705-11717.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nakayama, Kentaro; Nakayama, Naomi; Katagiri, Hiroshi; Miyazaki, Kohji. 2012. "Mechanisms of Ovarian Cancer Metastasis: Biochemical Pathways." Int. J. Mol. Sci. 13, no. 9: 11705-11717.

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