Characteristics of pre-metastatic niche: the landscape of molecular and cellular pathways

Metastasis is a major contributor to cancer-associated deaths. It involves complex interactions between primary tumorigenic sites and future metastatic sites. Accumulation studies have revealed that tumour metastasis is not a disorderly spontaneous incident but the climax of a series of sequential and dynamic events including the development of a pre-metastatic niche (PMN) suitable for a subpopulation of tumour cells to colonize and develop into metastases. A deep understanding of the formation, characteristics and function of the PMN is required for developing new therapeutic strategies to treat tumour patients. It is rapidly becoming evident that therapies targeting PMN may be successful in averting tumour metastasis at an early stage. This review highlights the key components and main characteristics of the PMN and describes potential therapeutic strategies, providing a promising foundation for future studies.

Automated summary

Metastasis is a major cause of cancer-related deaths, with the pre-metastatic niche playing a crucial role in the colonization and development of tumor cells into metastases. Developing a deep understanding of the formation, characteristics, and function of the pre-metastatic niche is essential for devising new therapeutic strategies to prevent tumor metastasis at an early stage. Therapies targeting the pre-metastatic niche show promise in averting tumor metastasis, highlighting the importance of further research in this area.