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Metastasis-Initiating Cells and Ecosystems.
Joan Massagué1, Karuna Ganesh2,3
1Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, New York. j-massague@ski.mskcc.org ganeshk@mskcc.org.
Cancer Discovery
|April 3, 2021
Summary
Metastasis-initiating cells (MICs) possess stem-like, immune-evasive traits, enabling cancer spread and recurrence. Understanding MICs and their ecosystems is key to developing new therapies for advanced cancers.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Metastasis is driven by cancer cells with stem-like and immune-evasive properties, known as metastasis-initiating cells (MICs).
- MICs arise from malignant cells adopting a normal regenerative progenitor phenotype, facilitating survival during metastasis, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the nature of MICs and their associated ecosystems.
- To explore how understanding MICs informs innovative treatments for metastatic cancers.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent progress in understanding metastasis.
- Analysis of the molecular mediators and host tissue interactions relevant to MIC phenotypes.
Main Results:
- MICs exhibit intrinsic programs for metastatic survival, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, dormancy, immune evasion, and niche colonization.
- MICs co-opt systemic factors for tumor growth and recurrence post-therapy.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the origins, traits, and vulnerabilities of MICs and their microenvironments is critical for improving advanced cancer prevention and treatment.
- Knowledge of MICs and their ecosystems is guiding the development of novel therapeutic strategies against metastatic cancers.
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