• Molecular biology of human breast carcinoma metastasis (tumor progression)
  • Samaneh karimkhanilouei,1,*
    1. Zanjan University of Medical Sciences is a public medical sciences university


  • Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide. Metastasis is the leading cause of high mortality in most cancers. Breast cancer comprises five molecular subtypes that have distinct prognosis and treatment strategies. These five subtypes include: luminal A (ER+, PR+, Ki67 < 20%), luminal B (ER+, PR+ or PR-, Her2+ or Her2-, Ki67 > 20%), triple-negative (ER-, PR-, HER2-), and HER2-enriched breast cancer (ER+, PR+), (HER2+). The absence of receptors on the surface of tumor cells of breast cancer is one of the signs of aggressive status and poor prognosis. The most aggressive subtypes include HER2 neu-positive and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Although predicting the early stage of breast cancer before metastasis can increase the survival rate, breast cancer is often discovered or diagnosed after metastasis has occurred. The progressive expansion of cells at a location distant from the source tumor is referred to as metastasis. Cells can spread throughout the body through the lymphatic system, blood vessels, or cavities. the molecular biology of human breast cancer metastasis was the goal of this investigation.
  • Methods: This review study used scientific databases such as Science Direct, Springer, Google Scholar, and PubMed about title of investigating Molecular biology of human breast carcinoma metastasis (tumor progression).
  • Results: Malignant and metastatic tumors can be distinguished in more subtle ways. Several morphologic characteristics, such as less differentiated cytology, vascularity, necrosis, mitotic index, aneuploidy, and nuclear: cytoplasmic ratio is used by pathologists to describe malignancy. An invasion of cells via a basement membrane and/or metastasis are undeniable signs of cancer. There are some exceptions to every other trait used to classify a tumor as malignant. When the wild-type expression of tumor suppressor genes is reinstated in a cancer cell, the gene's ability to develop a tumor is strongly inhibited. Therefore, by definition, metastasis ought to be prevented as well. On the other hand, metastasis suppressor genes solely prevent the development of metastases. Cells that are still tumorigenic but no longer metastatic would result from re-activating a metastasis suppressor gene.
  • Conclusion: Studies revealed a correlation between the onset and/or progression of breast cancer and the differential expression of over 150 genes. However, to date, only six human metastasis-suppressor genes NME1 KiSS1, KAI1, CAD1, BRMS1, and MKK4—have been shown to exhibit functional activity utilizing in vivo metastasis. Complex genetics underlie metastasis in general and breast cancer in particular.
  • Keywords: Breast Carcinoma, Metastasis, Tumor, malignant