Primary tumor-associated hypoxia stimulates the production of secreted factors that mobilize bone marrow-derived cells, including immunomodulatory myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) to pre-metastatic niches. We recently found that the hypoxia-induced enzyme carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) promotes metastasis by stimulating the G-CSF dependent mobilization of granulocytic MDSCs to the lung pre-metastatic niche.
Keywords: G-CSF; MDSC; breast cancer; carbonic anhydrase IX; hypoxia; metastasis; pre-metastatic niche.