Metastasis: a therapeutic target for cancer

Top Cited Papers
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Metastasis remains the major driver of mortality in patients with cancer. The similarities and differences between primary tumors and metastases are described, and pathways controlling the colonization of a distant organ and incorporation of anti-metastatic therapies into clinical testing are discussed. The authors emphasize that the time is ripe for metastasis and metastatic colonization to enter mainstream clinical development and testing. Metastasis remains the major driver of mortality in patients with cancer. Our growing body of knowledge regarding this process provides the basis for the development of molecularly targeted therapeutics aimed at the tumor cell or its interaction with the host microenvironment. Here we discuss the similarity and differences between primary tumors and metastases, pathways controlling the colonization of a distant organ, and incorporation of antimetastatic therapies into clinical testing.