Heterogeneity of BCSCs contributes to the metastatic organotropism of breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most-common female malignancies with a high risk of relapse and distant metastasis. The distant metastasis of breast cancer exhibits organotropism, including brain, lung, liver and bone. Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are a small population of breast cancer cells with tumor-initiating ability, which participate in regulating distant metastasis in breast cancer. We investigated the heterogeneity of BCSCs according to biomarker status, epithelial or mesenchymal status and other factors. Based on the classical seed and soil theory, we explored the effect of BCSCs on the metastatic organotropism in breast cancer at both seed and soil levels, with BCSCs as the seed and BCSCs-related microenvironment as the soil. We also summarized current clinical trials, which assessed the safety and efficacy of BCSCs-related therapies. Understanding the role of BCSCs heterogeneity for regulating metastatic organotropism in breast cancer would provide a new insight for the diagnosis and treatment of advanced metastatic breast cancer.

Automated summary

Breast cancer stem cells play a role in regulating the distant metastasis of breast cancer, and their heterogeneity varies according to biomarker status. Based on the seed and soil theory, BCSCs have an impact on the metastatic organotropism in breast cancer. Understanding the role of BCSCs could provide new insights for the diagnosis and treatment of advanced metastatic breast cancer.