Metastatic Patterns of Cancers: Results From a Large Autopsy Study

Abstract

Context.—Many studies have addressed metastatic patterns seen among various cancers. No recent studies, however, provide quantitative analyses of such patterns arising from a broad range of cancers based primarily on postmortem tissue analyses. Objective.—To provide a quantitative description of metastatic patterns among different primary cancers based on data obtained from a large, focused autopsy study. Design.—Review of data from 3827 autopsies, performed between 1914 and 1943 on patients from 5 affiliated medical centers, comprising 41 different primary cancers and 30 different metastatic sites. Results.—Testicular cancers were most likely to metastasize (5.8 metastases per primary cancer), whereas duodenal cancers were least likely to do so (0.6 metastases per primary cancer). Preferred metastatic sites varied among the primary cancers analyzed. Overall, regional lymph nodes were the most common metastatic target (20.6% of total), whereas testes were the least common (0.1% of total). Conclusions.—Not surprisingly, different primary cancers tended to metastasize, with differing frequencies, to different sites. These varying metastatic patterns might be helpful in deducing the origins of cancers whose primary sites are unclear at presentation.

Systematic Pan-Cancer Population-Based Analysis Reveals the Incidence and Prognosis of Lung Metastases at Diagnosis

“…We performed a comprehensive analysis of the incidence and prognosis of LM at initial diagnosis, according to primary cancer site. LM has been shown to originate most often from breast, followed by rectum, cervix, and stomach [5]. In a study of 5,206 patients who underwent lung metastasectomy, ∼43% of LMs were from epithelial cell tumors, sarcomas (42%), germ cell tumors (7%), and melanoma (6%) [4].…”

“…Circulation patterns are important for circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to mechanically arrest in the capillary networks they encounter. Due to its high vascular flow, hypoxia, and inflammation, the lungs are an example of the most common metastatic targets, with ∼10.7% of all primary malignancies targeting this site [5]. When tumor cells leave their primary site and enter the venous drainage of the organ, it is likely that the first metastatic foci will develop in the filtering organ.…”

“…Different tumors have their own proclivity to metastasize to target organs. LM is most common from primary breast, colon, prostate, and bladder cancers, neuroblastoma, and sarcoma [5]. When cancer cells leave their primary site and migrate to the lungs, they change from quiescence into metastatic outgrowth and infiltrate surrounding tissues.…”

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Suspected Liver Metastases

“…The most frequent secondary neoplasms of the liver are carcinomas followed by melanomas, whereas lymphomas and sarcomas rarely spread to the liver. Breast, lung, colorectal, gastric, and pancreaticobiliary malignancies are the most common carcinomas to develop liver metastasis [64].…”

A novel risk stratification for predicting prognosis of colorectal cancer patients with bone metastasis

“…As the most common cancer and the second most common cause of death worldwide, colorectal cancer (CRC) is likely to metastasize to liver, followed by lungs and peritoneal cavity, yet rarely to bone (1,2). It is reported that the incidence of BM from CRC is 6.0-10.4% (3) but has gradually increased in recent years (4).…”