Metastasis is considered as one of the most important cancer phenotypes. The recent advances in cell biology have a bearing on metastasis research, particularly on the current investigations on cell surfaces and characterization of tumor cells. There is a great deal of relationship between metastasis and other research areas, such as immunology, carcinogenesis, immunotherapy and chemotherapy. It was pointed out that complete cure cannot be accomplished without some understanding of the metastatic processes, for instance, the question of whether metastasis occurs before or after diagnosis. Therefore, future development of anti-metastatic drugs is critical. The metastatic processes depend upon many undisclosed factors such as the type of cancer cells, liberation of cancer cells from the primary site, enlodgement of tumor cells, the mechanism of spreading of cancer cells and the characteristics of different types of cancer cells. The understanding of the metastatic process is extremely important and basic biology and cell biology, including genetics, will play extremely important roles. It is very crucial to stimulate interest among the different disciplines for cross-fertilization in order to take a multi-disciplinary approach to study the problem of metastasis.
In March 1975, the Joint Working Group on metastasis met to discuss ways to stimulate bilateral interest in metastasis and areas of cooperative research. At the discussion, some favored a workshop on a relatively narrow aspect of the subject, others a conference which would more or less survey the field. The latter was agreed upon as the initial effort and it was decided to hold a meeting of the Joint Working Group in May 1976, in Hawaii, to survey the general area of cell biology aimed at problems in metastasis and to discuss areas of cooperative research, such as characteristics of tumor cells, host response and clinical aspects of metastasis.
In addition, the program has stimulated the exchange of scientists. It was arranged for one Japanese scientist to study in a U.S. laboratory the immunological aspects of lymph nodes in relation to metastasis. Exchange of transplantable colonic cancer lines was being planned.