The oligometastatic state in breast cancer: hypothesis or reality.

The term 'oligometastasis' was initially used to describe a restricted locoregional tumour load, but the term has now become synonymous with isolated distant metastases. The existence of an oligometastatic state is still not widely recognised in the management of breast cancer patients. However, there are a number of patients who do develop isolated metastases and in whom long term survival can be achieved following appropriately targeted treatment.

Angiopoietins in tumours: the angiogenic switch.

On first view, the literature pertaining to the expression of the angiopoietins in tumours is confusing and does not readily offer a consensus pattern. Apparently conflicting publications report increased, decreased or unchanged expression levels of both angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in a wide range of tumours. However, closer scrutiny of the literature, taking into account relative increases or decreases of each factor, reveals a consensus pattern, seen in almost all instances of expression profiling of the angiopoietins in tumours.

Do metastases metastasize?

Metastatic disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. However, it is not clear if all metastases originate from the primary tumour or whether metastases themselves have the capacity to metastasize. In this review, the evidence for the latter phenomenon, and its biological and clinical implications, is discussed.