Metastatic spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor and their nesting and growth in distant organs and tissues is the main cause of mortality in cancer patients. The detachment of malignant cells from the primary tumor and their circulation in the bloodstream as CTCs, and subsequent dissemination prior to detection of metastasis as DTCs, are key events in the metastatic cascade. Throughout this process, CTCs and DTCs rely on molecular programs that make them highly resistant and allow colonization of a foreign environment. In addition, tumor cells are also supported by interactions with cells of the tumor microenvironment (TME), such as immune cell populations and stromal cells. Despite this knowledge, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive metastasis are poorly understood.
Recent technological advances in the field allow us to interrogate cell populations and single cells at the genomic and epigenomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic levels, as well as to perform high-resolution profiling of TME, which helps to understand the mechanisms of metastasis. In this context, expanding our knowledge of the biology of CTCs and DTCs, their plasticity, latency and drug resistance mechanisms, will be crucial to establish new biomarkers for the identification and monitoring of high-risk patients. In addition, it will enable the development of new therapeutic strategies targeting cancer vulnerabilities, which will translate into clinical benefit for cancer patients.
This Research Topic aims to attract research works focused on unravelling the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the successful blood dissemination and homing of tumor cells seeding metastasis.
Metastatic spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor and their nesting and growth in distant organs and tissues is the main cause of mortality in cancer patients. The detachment of malignant cells from the primary tumor and their circulation in the bloodstream as CTCs, and subsequent dissemination prior to detection of metastasis as DTCs, are key events in the metastatic cascade. Throughout this process, CTCs and DTCs rely on molecular programs that make them highly resistant and allow colonization of a foreign environment. In addition, tumor cells are also supported by interactions with cells of the tumor microenvironment (TME), such as immune cell populations and stromal cells. Despite this knowledge, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive metastasis are poorly understood.
Recent technological advances in the field allow us to interrogate cell populations and single cells at the genomic and epigenomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic levels, as well as to perform high-resolution profiling of TME, which helps to understand the mechanisms of metastasis. In this context, expanding our knowledge of the biology of CTCs and DTCs, their plasticity, latency and drug resistance mechanisms, will be crucial to establish new biomarkers for the identification and monitoring of high-risk patients. In addition, it will enable the development of new therapeutic strategies targeting cancer vulnerabilities, which will translate into clinical benefit for cancer patients.
This Research Topic aims to attract research works focused on unravelling the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the successful blood dissemination and homing of tumor cells seeding metastasis.
