Establishment and Analysis of Experimental Models for The Study of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis

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Establishment of experimental models is now underway to identify and evaluate the candidate molecules for targeting of cancer invasion and metastasis. In vitro model systems including invadopodia formation have been used to study the molecular mechanisms of extracellular matrix degradation by cancer cells and the effects of components of the tumor microenvironment on cancer invasion. Animal models have also been used to establish cell lines that exhibit organ-specific metastasis and to study molecular mechanisms of metastasis.