In addition to mutations, environmental conditions created by the tissues surrounding tumors (stroma) play a major role in cancer progression.

In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers led by Gregg Semenza at Johns Hopkins University examined the interactions between breast cancer cells and the stroma to identify underlying pro-metastatic molecular mechanisms.

They found that both breast cancer cells and the stroma secrete proteins that influence the behavior of each cell type. Additionally, Semenza and colleagues found that a group of proteins known as HIFs were required for stroma-driven metastases, suggesting that drugs which inhibit this class of proteins may be useful in preventing breast cancer metastasis.

AUTHOR:
Gregg L. Semenza
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA