Expression Of Caveolin-1 In Hca-F And Hca-P Of Murine Hepatocarcinoma Cells Lymphatic Metastasis

Most deaths from cancer are due to metastasis. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of tumor metastasis are the urgent issues in the field of oncology research. There are many manners for tumor metastasis, such as direct dissemination, lymph node metastasis and blood metastasis. Lymph node metastasis often represents the first step in the metastasis process and occurs before blood metastasis. Inhibiting lymphatic metastasis is a key step to control tumor. It is generally accepted that various genes are involved in the complex process of tumor lymphatic metastasis.Researchers are looking forwards to find new target to control lymph node metastasis.Caveolae are omega-shaped invaginations of the plasma membrane that function as regulators of signal transduction .Caveolin-1 is the major component protein of caveolae and associated with a lot of cellular events such as endocytosis, cholesterol homeostasis, signal transduction and tumorigenesis. Evidence has accumulated suggesting that caveolin-1 might act as a tumor suppressor. Down-regulation of caveolin-1 has been found in various cancer types, including human breast, lung, colon and ovarian carcinomas. It seems that the loss of caveolin-1 leads to a poorly controlled cell growth. But this idea has been controversial because caveolin-1 over-expression is seen in some cancers such as prostate, lung, ovary, kidney and esophageal cell carcinoma. Caveolin-1 expression has even been associated with increased metastasis potential.The mouse hepatocarcinoma cell lines Hca-F with a highly lymphatic metastasis rate over 80% and Hca-P with a low lymphatic metastasis rate less than 30% have been derived from hepatocarcinoma in mice. Hca-F...