Study suggests tumors may 'seed' cancer metastases earlier than expected

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-10/sri-tss102815.php

Public Release: 29-Oct-2015
TSRI study suggests tumors may 'seed' cancer metastases earlier than expected
Scripps Research Institute

A new study from scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) helps explain why cancer metastasis is so hard to stop.

The researchers found an additional mechanism explaining how a molecule long linked to cancer progression appears to "seed" the body with metastatic cells long before doctors would typically detect a primary tumor. The molecule, known as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), encourages blood vessel growth early in tumor development--not only feeding the primary tumor, but also providing vehicles for cancer to escape the primary tumor site and travel throughout the body.

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