Lymph node metastasis in cancer progression: molecular mechanisms, clinical significance and therapeutic interventions

Abstract

Lymph nodes (LNs) are important hubs for metastatic cell arrest and growth, immune modulation, and secondary dissemination to distant sites through a series of mechanisms, and it has been proved that lymph node metastasis (LNM) is an essential prognostic indicator in many different types of cancer. Therefore, it is important for oncologists to understand the mechanisms of tumor cells to metastasize to LNs, as well as how LNM affects the prognosis and therapy of patients with cancer in order to provide patients with accurate disease assessment and effective treatment strategies. In recent years, with the updates in both basic and clinical studies on LNM and the application of advanced medical technologies, much progress has been made in the understanding of the mechanisms of LNM and the strategies for diagnosis and treatment of LNM. In this review, current knowledge of the anatomical and physiological characteristics of LNs, as well as the molecular mechanisms of LNM, are described. The clinical significance of LNM in different anatomical sites is summarized, including the roles of LNM playing in staging, prognostic prediction, and treatment selection for patients with various types of cancers. And the novel exploration and academic disputes of strategies for recognition, diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions of metastatic LNs are also discussed.

Porphyrin-Based Self-Assembled Nanoparticles for PET/MR Imaging of Sentinel Lymph Node Metastasis

“…In isolated lymph nodes, the Mn content of N-LN was higher than that of T-SLN, further supporting these observations in MRI (Figure E,F). (2) Both N-LN and T-SLN reached their Δ T 1 peak at 1 h. However, after reaching the peak, Δ T 1 of N-LN decreased rapidly, while that of T-SLN decreased gradually within the first 3 h. The prolonged residence time of F127-TAPP/TCPP(Mn) NPs in T-SLN may be attributed to tumor invasion altering the internal structure of lymph nodes and partially obstructed lymphatic reflux, resulting in a slower output rate of F127-TAPP/TCPP(Mn) NPs from the T-SLN’s efferent lymphatic vessels, thus exhibiting a prolonged residence time. Therefore, by MRI, F127-TAPP/TCPP(Mn) NPs can differentiate between N-LN and T-SLN.…”

HLA class II polymorphisms as prognostic biomarkers for right and left-sided colon cancer

“…Lymph nodes are crucial for several biological processes, including the development of metastasis and immune modulation. 26 Lymph-node invasion is a prognostic factor for many cancers such as CRC 27 and pancreatic cancer. 28 In our study, DQB1*03 was negatively associated with lymph-node invasion in CC.…”

Bibliometrics of gastric cancer prediction models

“…Many retrospective studies have found that lymph node metastasis is an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of early gastric cancer patients. The 2018 Chinese guidelines mentioned: For early gastric cancer patients with lymph node metastasis, gastrectomy combined with lymph node dissection is still the main treatment method, which can significantly reduce the local recurrence rate of tumor after surgery and improve the 5-year survival rate after surgery 29 . For early gastric cancer patients without lymph node metastasis who meet the surgical indications, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) can be performed, which has no statistical difference in short-term and long-term efficacy compared with traditional surgery; and it can significantly improve the postoperative quality of life of patients.…”