Metastasis articles from across Nature Portfolio

Metastatic spread of cancer to the brain has a devastating effect on patient outcomes, yet identifying patients who will develop brain metastases is difficult in current clinical practice. We show that DNA methylation signatures from lung adenocarcinomas can accurately predict which patients are at risk of metastasis to the brain, which could transform future cancer care.

A phenotypic study to examine the distinct morphologies of ER+ and ER− breast cancer bone metastases focusing on the mechanism associated with the hypoxia pathway and revealing a promising target for bone metastases treatment in breast cancer.

In some instances (<5%), non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer can progress to metastatic disease without any signs of bladder muscle or lympho-vascular invasion, a condition known as metastatic non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. In this Perspective, the authors present the available literature on metastatic non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, and discuss the potential aetiologies underlying this condition.

Metastatic spread of cancer to the brain has a devastating effect on patient outcomes, yet identifying patients who will develop brain metastases is difficult in current clinical practice. We show that DNA methylation signatures from lung adenocarcinomas can accurately predict which patients are at risk of metastasis to the brain, which could transform future cancer care.

Circulating tumour cells from primary carcinomas may reach the brain and establish metastases. In the brain parenchyma, tumour cells initiate extensive interactions with resident astrocytes, microglia and neurons, forming a niche where tumour cells can thrive. A new study reveals a previously unknown type of astrocyte–tumour cell interaction.

Using single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of bone-colonizing tumour cells and in vivo screening, lymphotoxin-β (LTβ) was identified as a key factor promoting bone colonization and outgrowth of breast cancer metastases. Blocking LTβ signalling significantly suppressed bone metastasis, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for breast cancer with bone metastatic disease.

Sex matters in metastasis, but it has received little attention in research. Here, we highlight the emerging and important roles of biological sex in metastasis and advocate for mechanistic and quantitative studies for the future development of sex-tailored therapies.