Open AccessCirculating MicroRNAs and Blood-Brain-Barrier Function in Breast Cancer Metastasis
Author(s) -
Carolin Curtaz,
Corinna Schmitt,
Kinga G Blecharz-Lang,
Norbert Roewer,
Achim Wöckel,
Małgorzata Burek
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
current pharmaceutical design
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.69
H-Index - 159
eISSN - 1873-4286
pISSN - 1381-6128
DOI - 10.2174/1381612826666200316151720
Subject(s) - blood–brain barrier , breast cancer , microrna , metastasis , cancer , brain metastasis , microvesicles , cancer cell , cancer research , medicine , neuroscience , mechanism (biology) , biology , central nervous system , gene , biochemistry , philosophy , epistemology
Brain metastases are a major cause of death in breast cancer patients. A key event in the metastatic progression of breast cancer in the brain is the migration of cancer cells across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a natural barrier with specialized functions that protect the brain from harmful substances, including antitumor drugs. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) sequestered by cells are mediators of cell-cell communication. EVs carry cellular components, including microRNAs that affect the cellular processes of target cells. Here, we summarize the knowledge about microRNAs known to play a significant role in breast cancer and/or in the BBB function. In addition, we describe previously established in vitro BBB models, which are a useful tool for studying molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of brain metastases.