Cell Membrane Fluid–Mosaic Structure and Cancer Metastasis

Abstract

Cancer cells are surrounded by a fluid-mosaic membrane that provides a highly dynamic structural barrier with the microenvironment, communication filter and transport, receptor and enzyme platform. This structure forms because of the physical properties of its constituents, which can move laterally and selectively within the membrane plane and associate with similar or different constituents, forming specific, functional domains. Over the years, data have accumulated on the amounts, structures, and mobilities of membrane constituents after transformation and during progression and metastasis. More recent information has shown the importance of specialized membrane domains, such as lipid rafts, protein-lipid complexes, receptor complexes, invadopodia, and other cellular structures in the malignant process. In describing the macrostructure and dynamics of plasma membranes, membraneassociated cytoskeletal structures and extracellular matrix are also important, constraining the motion of membrane components and acting as traction points for cell motility. These associations may be altered in malignant cells, and probably also in surrounding normal cells, promoting invasion and metastatic colonization. In addition, components can be released from cells as secretory molecules, enzymes, receptors, large macromolecular complexes, membrane vesicles, and exosomes that can modify the microenvironment, provide specific cross-talk, and facilitate invasion, survival, and growth of malignant cells. Cancer Res; 75(7); 1169-76. Ó2015 AACR.

Membrane tension and membrane fusion

“…A bilayer can be seen as a continuous two-dimensional film consisting of two lipid monolayers of about 2–3nm thickness. Lipid molecules within the monolayers can be organized in persistent or dynamic domains of diverse lipid compositions and even different physical states (see for recent review [6]).…”

CCL2/EGF positive feedback loop between cancer cells and macrophages promotes cell migration and invasion in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

“…Recent studies have reported the specialized subcellular structures, which were named as invadopodia in malignant cells and podosomes in many normal cell types, including vascular endothelial cells, macrophages, osteoclasts, etc ., involved in the degradation of ECM [12, 13]. These membrane protrusions facilitate cancer cells penetration through the basement membrane of blood vessels and into surrounding tissues, therefore promoting local invasion and distant metastasis of the cancer cells.…”

Transmission electron microscopy for nanomedicine: novel applications for long-established techniques

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