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New Directions in the Study and Treatment of Metastatic Cancer

Byunghee Yoo1, Bryan C Fuchs2, Zdravka Medarova1

  • 1MGH/MIT/HMS Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.

Frontiers in Oncology
|July 26, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Metastatic cancer cells differ from non-metastatic ones, requiring new therapeutic strategies. This study proposes a multi-pronged approach targeting the tumor microenvironment and immune response for better metastatic cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Translational Medicine

Background:

  • Traditional cancer therapies often treat non-metastatic and metastatic tumor cells identically.
  • Emerging evidence highlights distinct molecular and biological characteristics between non-metastatic and metastatic tumor cells.
  • These differences explain metastatic cells' ability to invade, survive circulation, and colonize distant organs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a novel, multi-pronged therapeutic framework for treating metastatic cancer.
  • To address the limitations of conventional cytotoxic approaches in managing metastatic disease.

Main Methods:

  • Modifying the primary tumor's microenvironment to prevent metastatic cell formation and release.
  • Normalizing the metastatic organ's microenvironment to impede tumor cell invasion and colonization.
  • Enhancing the immune response against tumor neoantigens.
  • Systemically targeting metastatic cells by restoring unique phenotypic traits, such as anchorage dependence.

Main Results:

  • The proposed framework offers a paradigm shift from traditional cytotoxic methods.
  • It integrates local, systemic, and immunomodulatory strategies for comprehensive metastatic cancer management.

Conclusions:

  • A multi-pronged therapeutic strategy is a more rational alternative for patients with metastatic cancer.
  • This novel approach could improve outcomes by targeting the distinct biology of metastatic cells and their environment.
Keywords:
cancer microenvironmentcancer stabilizationcancer therapymetastasistargeted therapy

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