The role of adhesive proteins in the hematogenous spread of cancer.

The understanding of the mechanisms that control metastasis and invasion are critical for the identification of new targets for drug development. In this review we focused on two major pathways that mediate hematogenous cancer spread: the hemostatic system and cell adhesive interactions that lead to tumor invasion and angiogenesis. We describe the contribution of platelets and a number of adhesive proteins as well as their receptors that have recently been shown to play a role in metastasis. In addition, enzymes and their inhibitors that modulate cellular adhesive interactions are described. We hope that this summary will stimulate researchers in this area to focus their efforts on molecules that have recently been discovered. These molecules will not only lead to the fuller understanding of the "soil and seed" hypothesis proposed more than 100 years ago but also provide new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of metastatic disease.