From a unique cell to metastasis is a long way to go: clues to stromelysin-3 participation.

Stromelysin-3 (ST3) overexpression is associated with poor patient clinical outcome in numerous carcinomas. The ST3 is expressed by peritumoral fibroblast-like cells. Review of the literature shows that ST3 is an active partner of cancer cells along the whole natural cancer history, and is essential for optimal tumor development as it reduces death of cancer cells invading adjacent connective tissues at the primary tumor site. Paradoxically, ST3 lowers metastasis development in vivo in mice. However, this beneficial effect does not counterbalance the deleterious anti-apoptotic function of ST3.