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MINI REVIEW article

Front. Pharmacol.

Sec. Pharmacology of Anti-Cancer Drugs

Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1585668

This article is part of the Research Topic Decoding Tumor Drug Resistance: Machine Learning’s Role from Molecules to Treatment View all 7 articles

Molecular Mechanisms and Signaling Pathways Related to Brain Metastasis in Breast Cancer

Provisionally accepted
Zhuming Liang Zhuming Liang 1,2Yanan Mo Yanan Mo 1,2Yujiao Zhang Yujiao Zhang 1,2Yanjing Yu Yanjing Yu 1,2Yinan JI Yinan JI 1,2*
  • 1 Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
  • 2 Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Region, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Brain metastasis in breast cancer (BCBM) significantly threatens the survival and quality of life of patients, particularly those with triple-negative (TNBC) and HER2-positive subtypes. It involves complex molecular mechanisms and diverse signaling pathways. This review highlights recent research on the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of BCBM. The process of BCBM includes several key steps: local infiltration of cancer cells into the bloodstream and subsequent spread to the brain. They must then overcome the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to establish and grow in the brain. Multiple signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT, STAT3, NF-κB, Notch, and Wnt are involved in this process. Overall, BCBM is a complex disease regulated by multiple molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways. To improve patient survival and quality of life, it is crucial to deepen research into the mechanisms of BCBM and explore new treatment targets and strategies. This will enhance our understanding of BCBM and lead to more effective treatments.

    Keywords: breast cancer, brain metastasis, Molecular mechanisms, Signaling Pathways, immune surveillance

    Received: 01 Mar 2025; Accepted: 21 Mar 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Liang, Mo, Zhang, Yu and JI. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Yinan JI, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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