Metastasis
Metastasis, the dissemination of tumour cells from a primary site leading to their progressive outgrowth at a distant organ, is ultimately what kills most patients with cancer. Yet, we are only at the cusp of our understanding of the biology of metastasis. For example, we still understand very little about why and how cancer cells migrate and invade away from the primary tumour, the mechanisms regulating cancer cell dormancy at a secondary site, the evolution and heterogeneity of metastatic lesions, why certain cancers metastasize to particular secondary organs (organotropism), and the role played by the modified microenvironment at the distant site in shaping metastatic colonization. Now, various technological developments, increased clinical sample acquisition and improved models are enabling us to overcome the gaps in our knowledge of metastasis with the hope that these conceptual advances might translate into prevention and/or treatment of metastatic disease to improve the survival of patients.
This Collection of the most recently published articles from Nature Reviews Cancer showcases the complexity of the metastatic process and the insights we have gained into the precise molecular and cellular basis of the events that facilitate cancer metastasis. This collection has been produced with exclusive support from HiberCell, Inc. The Collection content is editorially independent and the sole responsibility of Springer Nature.
This Collection is editorially independent, produced with financial support from a third party. About this content.
Nature Research is pleased to acknowledge the financial support of HiberCell, Inc in producing this Nature Collection. The sponsor retains sole responsibility for the following message.
Despite significant advances in the treatment of primary tumors, metastatic cancer remains a leading cause of solid cancer mortality. HiberCell seeks to change this outcome. As “the dormancy company,” we are the first company exclusively focused on therapeutically modulating the biology and mechanisms of tumor dormancy. Toward this goal, we are developing first-in-class therapeutics that target dormant disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) from solid and liquid cancers. At HiberCell we are passionately committed to understanding the evolution of cancer recurrence. Importantly, dormant DTCs have emerged as a key player in cancer relapse and metastasis. Given these emerging data, we have focused on therapeutic approaches that would allow us to address the foundational role these cells play in the biology of residual disease.
