REVIEW: Cellular Search Migrations in Normal Development and Carcinogenesis

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J. M. Vasiliev^1,2* and I. M. Gelfand³

¹Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119992 Moscow, Russia

²Institute of Carcinogenesis, Blokhin Russian Oncological Research Center, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Kashirskoe Shosse 24, 115478 Moscow, Russia; fax: (495) 324-1205; E-mail: yuvasiliev@yahoo.com

³Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA; E-mail: igelfand@math.rutgers.edu

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received April 13, 2006

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This review describes the large group of morphogenetic processes designated as search migrations. Search migrations typically include two stages: i) search, when a group of cells or of the cytoplasmic processes migrate over the cell-free spaces, and ii) choice, the stage when migrating cells reach specific loci where they stop and undergo specific differentiations induced by local factors such as cell-cell contacts and humoral agents. Migrating cells that do not meet their targets usually undergo apoptosis. Numerous examples of search migrations range from gastrulation to formation of axon-muscle connections. Critical stages of carcinogenesis such as acquisition of cell ability for invasion may be regarded as the genetic aberration of normal search migration: cancer cells perform an endless search but cannot make final choice.

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KEY WORDS: search reactions, exploratory migrations, carcinogenesis, p53, apoptosis, invasive growth, cytoskeleton

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297906080013

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