Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Metastasis—2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

Malignant tumors are characterized by the abilities to metastasize, and metastatic spread results in unfavorable prognosis and treatment outcomes. Although metastasis-related pathways are under intensive investigations, the background for the tumor susceptibility to metastasis is still poorly understood. It is also not well known whether carcinoma cells with enhanced metastatic properties reveal an affected treatment sensitivity compared to other malignant cells.

Under current discussion is the fact that a number of specific cellular properties (enhanced invasive and migratory abilities, increased expression of the molecules associated with metastatic spread, metabolic alterations resulting in the enhancement of cancer cell aggressiveness, etc.) and microenvironmental factors (crosstalk between malignant and nonmalignant cells comprising tumors, cytokine and growth factor release by the cells, proinflammatory stimuli, etc.) can contribute to metastatic spread and limit therapy responses.

It is proposed that the following aspects of the subject area be highlighted in this Special Issue:

• The role of dormancy in metastasis development;
• Cancer stem cells as a root for metastasis formation;
• The molecular properties of tumor cells with enhanced metastatic capacities;
• The molecular mechanisms of organ-specific metastasis;
• Circulating tumor cells;
• Therapy-induced metastasis;
• Tumor metabolism and metastatic spread;
• The role of the microenvironment (tumor stroma and immune system) in metastatic progression;
• Exosomes in disease progression;
• Cytokines contributing to metastatic spread;
• Metabolic hallmarks of metastasis formation;
• Diagnostic tools for metastasis detection;
• Therapeutic approaches to combating metastatic progression.

Prof. Dr. Ira-Ida Skvortsova
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cells is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Metastasis in Cells (8 articles)

Title: Novel high-throughput screen identified S100A4 inhibitors for anti-metastatic therapy
Authors: Paul Curtis Schöpe *1, Nina Heisterkamp*1, Devin Schütz*1, Kerstin Putzker2, Ulrike Uhrig2, Wolfgang Walther1, Dennis Kobelt1, Ulrike Stein1,3
Affiliation: 1 Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany 2 The European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL, Meyerhofstraße 1, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany 3 German Cancer Consortium (DKTK Partnersite Berlin), Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany * contributed equally
Abstract: N/A