The behavior of metastatic cancer cells is dependent on the type of cancer and the specific characteristics of the cells. In general, these cells are more aggressive and invasive than the primary tumor cells, and they have the ability to evade the immune system and resist chemotherapy and radiation therapy. They also can form new blood vessels, a process known as angiogenesis, which allows them to receive the nutrients and oxygen they need to grow and spread. With metastatic cells spreading, the pre-metastatic niche is the environment in which these cancer cells establish new tumors before they begin to grow. This niche includes the cells, blood vessels, and extracellular matrix in the distant organs where the cancer cells will eventually settle. The pre-metastatic niche can be created by the primary tumor, which secretes a variety of soluble factors and/or extracellular vesicles, that attract cancer cells and prepare the distant organ for their arrival.

Recent research has shown that cell behavior and pre-metastatic niche are active participants in the metastatic process and play a critical role in the success or failure of cancer cell colonization and therapy. This Research Topic aims to provide a forum to advance research on new mechanisms that would lead to novel strategies and cancer treatments that target cell behavior and pre-metastatic niches, leading to better clinical outcomes.

We welcome Brief Research Reports, Case Reports, Clinical Trials, Methods, Mini Reviews, Opinions, Original Research, Perspectives, Reviews, Study Protocols, and Systematic Reviews. Areas to be covered in this research topic may include, but are not limited to:
1. Metastasis and organ tropisms
2. Immune system and metastasis
3. In vitro and in vivo models to study metastasis
4. Regulation of the metastatic cascade
5. Pre-metastatic niche formation: role of primary tumor-derived extracellular vesicles
6. Organ colonization
7. Tumor cell dormancy
8. Treatment for Metastatic Cancer

Please note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) will not be accepted in Frontiers in Oncology.

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Frontiers in Oncology

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