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Motivation for Launching a Cancer Metastasis Inhibition (CMI) Program

Jill M Pulley1, Rebecca N Jerome1, Martin L Ogletree2,3

  • 1Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2525 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA.

Targeted Oncology
|December 9, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Targeting cancer metastasis is crucial for improving patient outcomes. New therapies focusing on metastasis pathways, like TBXA2R antagonists, offer a proactive approach to cancer management.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Translational Medicine

Background:

  • Metastatic cancers significantly impact patient survival and quality of life.
  • Current treatments often lack direct targeting of tumor cell metastasis, leaving microscopic disease post-remission.
  • There is a critical need for therapies that actively prevent metastasis rather than managing established disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore novel therapeutic strategies targeting the metastatic process in cancer.
  • To investigate the role of specific genetic markers, such as TBXA2R, in cancer metastasis.
  • To establish foundational measures for assessing metastasis and guide clinical development.

Main Methods:

  • Phenome-wide association study (PWAS) to identify genetic associations with metastasis.
  • Analysis of emerging data on the role of platelets in the metastatic cascade.
  • Implementation of a Cancer Metastasis Inhibition (CMI) program for multi-cancer investigation.

Main Results:

  • A single nucleotide polymorphism in the TBXA2R gene was linked to increased metastasis across multiple cancer types (P=0.003).
  • Platelet involvement in metastasis presents a promising avenue for therapeutic intervention.
  • Foundational research is required to develop reliable measures for circulating tumor cells, tumor DNA, and spread patterns.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting metastasis pathways, including TBXA2R, represents a paradigm shift towards active cancer prevention.
  • Further research and team science are essential to overcome challenges in developing anti-metastasis therapies.
  • The established CMI program aims to advance the clinical targeting of cancer metastasis.

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