[Liver metastases: pathogenesis and oncogenesis]

Abstract

Liver metastases are most often caused by colorectal cancer, followed by pancreatic and breast cancer. Metastasis constitutes the last step of malignant tumor progression. Molecular investigations point towards an important role of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as a mechanism of local invasion and distant metastasis formation. Furthermore, the existence of a subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSC) could be demonstrated in solid tumors. Recent observations show a dynamic induction of CSC properties by EMT. Therefore, theoretically migrating cancer stem cells (MCSC) can be induced which form the basis for the development of distant metastases.