Microenvironment in the metastasis process: the role of low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase in the stromal cells and its effect on tumoral progression and aggressiveness

Abstract

Cancer is one of the most important public health problems worldwide and its worst diagnostic is metastasis. Metastasis is caused by colonization of other sites by tumor cells. The treatment options currently available are rarely able to cure metastatic cancer. What makes the metastasis treatment very challenging is the complexity of the process, which involves sequential events and different cell types. Thus, the study of the biology of metastasis is extremely important to develop efficient therapies. So, the influence of microenvironment over tumoral cells is a very relevant matter, since stroma (extracelular matrix, fibroblast, inflammatory cells, capillaries and nerves) secretes growth factors, citocines, hormones, signaling factors that can act positive or negatively on tumor cells and vice versa. Some studies have been shown the role of microenvironment on development of metastasis. However, little is known about signaling pathways involved in those interactions and how they are regulated aims the establishment of molecular target to treat and prevent metastasis. Our research group has been studying the importance of protein tyrosine phosphatases in different tumors. Thus, it is very interesting to us to evaluate the role of those enzymes in the communication between microenvironment and tumor cells. To start our studies we have chosen the Low Molecular Weight Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases (LMWPTPs), which have potential therapeutic target because they are involved in cell proliferation, migration and tumor aggressiveness, as well. However, little attention has been given to the role of LMWPTP on stromal cells. Since LMWPTP is ubiquitously expressed and is related to different signaling pathways, the following question is risen up: Does LMWPTP in stromal cells display influence on progression and aggressiveness of tumor? Thus, this project aims to study the role of LMWTP on the tumoral microenvironment and its influence in tumor progression and aggressiveness.