Metastasis is the main cause of cancer death. Metastatic foci are derived from tumor cells that detach from the primary tumor and then enter the circulation. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are generally associated with a high probability of distant metastasis and a negative prognosis. Most CTCs die in the bloodstream, and only a few cells form metastases. Such metastatic CTCs have a stem-like and hybrid epithelial-mesenchymal phenotype, can avoid immune surveillance, and show increased therapy resistance. Targeting metastatic CTCs and their progenitors in primary tumors and their descendants, particularly disseminated tumor cells, represents an attractive strategy for metastasis prevention. However, current therapeutic strategies mainly target the primary tumor and only indirectly affect metastasis-initiating cells. Here, we consider potential methods for preventing metastasis based on targeting molecular and cellular features of metastatic CTCs, including CTC clusters. Also, we emphasize current knowledge gaps in CTC biology that should be addressed to develop highly effective therapeutics and strategies for metastasis suppression.
Background. Distant organ tumor dissemination is a major cause of breast cancer-related deaths. Breast cancer can metastasize to several organs, and the most frequent metastatic sites include the bones, lungs and liver. There is a question what factors can influence the direction of spread of tumor cells to a particular organ.Material and Methods. We summarized the data available in the world literature on methods for prediction of the localization of distant metastases in breast cancer patients.Results. We divided the factors associated with the localization of distant metastases into two main groups: clinicopathological parameters of breast cancer patients and molecular features of tumor microenvironment and tumor cells (primary tumor and circulating tumor cells) or its derivates – exosomes. From our point of view, the most powerful clinicopathological factor predicting the distant metastasis site is a molecular subtype of primary tumor. We can conclude that luminal (HR+/HER2-) tumors are often characterized by single metastases and bones are the most common metastatic site, while TNBC and HER2-enriched tumors often metastasize to multiple sites, most commonly brain and liver. However, several authors did not reveal these associations in their studies. It likely indicates the existence of other factors that significantly affect the organotropism of metastasis. Numerous studies demonstrate the association of different molecules expressed on tumor cells with organotropic metastasis. However, these data are very fragmentary and rather contradictory.Conclusion. The found associations are common to all participants of metastatic cascade, but remains unclear which factors are essential and crucial in determining the direction of metastasis.
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