Metastasis liver tropism, molecular profiling, and discovery of innovative therapeutic targets
Liver organ has a high propensity for homing metastasis from non-liver cancers, in particular colorectal, breast, stomach, and pancreatic carcinomas. Indeed liver is the second most common site after lymph nodes for metastasis deposit from non-liver cancers. The occurrence of liver metastasis often predicts poor prognosis despite a great progress in surgical,neoadjuvant, or postoperative chemotherapymodalities. Here, we conducted a comprehensive genomic screening of liver, lung, and brain metastasis derived from breast cancer and identified gene signatures predictive of liver tropism. Validation of this signature was carried out in preclinical models and cancer tissues from patients. Strategies and data on experimental approaches to selectively target liver metastasis based on gene signatures, as well as their potential to be translated into clinical applications will be discussed.
This research has been supported by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the Cancer Research Society, and the Canadian Cancer Research Society.
