Figure 4.

Interactions between selectins and the physiological processes and hematogenous metastasis of cancer. (A) Physiological functions of selectins in the blood. The attachment of leukocytes and platelets to the activated endothelium are mediated cooperatively by three types of selectins. (B) Potential selectin-cancer cell correlations during the process of hematogenous metastasis. L- and P-selectins mediate the recruitment of leukocytes and platelets to cancer cells, and subsequently facilitate the formation of cancer-cell-platelet-leukocyte emboli, which protect cancer cells from immune elimination. E- and P-selectins are then critical in the attachment of cancer cells to the activated endothelium and in supporting metastatic spread.