The underappreciated role of resident epithelial cell populations in metastatic progression: contributions of the lung alveolar epithelium

Metastatic cancer is difficult to treat and is responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths. After cancer cells initiate metastasis and successfully seed a distant site, resident cells in the tissue play a key role in determining how metastatic progression develops. The lung is the second m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American Journal of Physiology: Cell Physiology 2022-12, Vol.323 (6), p.C1777-C1790
Main Authors: Christenson, Jessica L, Williams, Michelle M, Richer, Jennifer K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Epithelial Cells - pathology
Epithelium
Lung - pathology
Pulmonary Alveoli - pathology
Respiratory Mucosa
Review
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Summary:Metastatic cancer is difficult to treat and is responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths. After cancer cells initiate metastasis and successfully seed a distant site, resident cells in the tissue play a key role in determining how metastatic progression develops. The lung is the second most frequent site of metastatic spread, and the primary site of metastasis within the lung is alveoli. The most abundant cell type in the alveolar niche is the epithelium. This review will examine the potential contributions of the alveolar epithelium to metastatic progression. It will also provide insight into other ways in which alveolar epithelial cells, acting as immune sentinels within the lung, may influence metastatic progression through their various interactions with cells in the surrounding microenvironment.
ISSN:0363-6143
1522-1563
DOI:10.1152/ajpcell.00181.2022