Tumor cell motility as a novel target in cancer--experimental and clinical results.

BACKGROUND: Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the mainstay of tumor management. However, in systemic disease cure can be achieved in yet a few tumor entities. Based on cell biological research we have characterized the process of tumor progression and metastasis and disclosed that the loss of cell-cell adhesion in association with an increased tumor cell motility is an essential feature of the malignant potential of a tumor. METHODS: According to this principle we derived therapeutical methods differing from hitherto existing treatments by being exclusively focused on tumor cell motility. Characterization of so-called anti-motility factors was performed biochemically as well as with motility assays by in vitro studies in established bladder carcinoma cell lines. RESULTS: We evaluated the potential therapeutic benefit in a model of chemically induced bladder carcinoma followed by a phase I/II trial applying antimotility factors in patients with advanced bladder cancer. CONCLUSION: Both basic research as well as the results of first clinical trials confirm, that advanced carcinomas can be influenced by inhibition of tumor cell motility.