Cancer Metastasis: How NFCR is Fighting Metastasis

Cancer Metastasis

Cancer Metastasis

What is Cancer Metastasis?

Metastasis, the spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor to distant sites in the body, is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Developing treatments to prevent or inhibit metastasis is a critical goal in improving patient outcomes.

The metastatic process involves multiple steps, including local invasion, intravasation into blood or lymphatic vessels, survival during transit, extravasation into new tissue, and colonization at distant sites. Cancer cells undergo phenotypic changes and interact with the tumor microenvironment to facilitate each step.

NFCR IMPACTS IN CANCER METASTASIS RESEARCH

  • NFCR recognizes pioneering scientists that established paradigms in metastasis research and clinical approaches.

NFCR-Supported Researchers Working on Cancer Metastasis

Paul Schimmel, Ph.D.
Scripps Research

Xiang-Lei Yang, Ph.D. Scripps Research

Xiang-Lei Yang, Ph.D. 
Scripps Research

Daniel A. Haber, M.D., Ph.D.
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center

Esther Rheinbay, Ph.D.
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School

Danny R. Welch, Ph.D.
University of Kansas Cancer Center

Isidore Rigoutsos, Ph.D.
University Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Kornelia Polyak Portrait

Kornelia Polyak, M.D., Ph.D
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School

Valerie M. Weaver, Ph.D
University of California San Francisco

Ronald A. DePinho, M.D.
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Paul Fisher, M.Ph., Ph.D.

Paul Fisher, M.Ph., Ph.D.
Virginia Commonwealth University

Francesca Bersani, Ph.D.

Francesca Bersani, Ph.D.
University of Torino, Italy

Aditya Bardia, MD

Aditya Bardia, M.D.
Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School

Darren Carpizo, M.D., Ph.D.

Darren Carpizo, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Rochester

Igor Astsaturov, M.D., Ph.D.

Igor Astsaturov, M.D., Ph.D.
Fox Chase Cancer Center

Webster K. Cavenee, Ph.D.
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research

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Research Update: NFCR-Supported Scientists Advance Liquid Biopsy Technology

Two NFCR-supported researchers have recently published in the high-impact publication Nature Communications for their work on liquid biopsies and circulating tumor cells. Drs. Daniel A. Haber of Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Aditya Bardia of the University of California, Los Angeles, are corresponding and co-authors, respectively, of the paper titled Tumor cell-based liquid biopsy using high-throughput microfluidic enrichment of entire leukapheresis product. Advances in Circulating Tumor Cell Technology The paper discusses an innovative approach to liquid biopsy that involves using a significantly higher volume of blood samples from patients with metastatic cancer than a standard blood sample. This method allows for the capture of a much greater number of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) (counts ranging from 100 to 58,000). Metastasis is responsible for 90% of cancer-related deaths. CTCs in patients’ bloodstream are cells that are metastasizing or spreading throughout the body. Information on a patient’s cancer deemed from the captured CTCs is invaluable to doctors and their patients, for example, to monitor responses to treatments. In the new approach, approximately 5.8 liters of blood is collected, utilizing a 'Leukopac' system, which is similar to the volume needed for bone marrow transplantation and CAR-T cell preparation used in immunology treatments. The researchers made significant modifications to their original CTC-ichip device and methods to accommodate this larger blood volume of the Leuopak, resulting in a new collection platform called the LPCTC-iChip. The new technique aims to provide a more comprehensive liquid biopsy, paving the way for more effective and personalized cancer management strategies. More personalized treatments would, in turn, lead to better survivorship for cancer patients. What is a Liquid Biopsy? A liquid biopsy is a laboratory test done on a sample of blood, urine, or other body fluid to look for cancer cells from a tumor or small pieces of DNA, RNA, or other molecules released by tumor cells into a person's body fluids—source: National Cancer Institute. What are Circulating Tumor Cells? Circulating tumor cells detach from solid tumors and circulate in the bloodstream. Since they are live cells from a patient's tumor, they are considered a "liquid biopsy" of the tumor and offer the possibility of assessing—in real time—the tumor's characteristics, evolution, and resistance/response to treatments. Learn more about this area of research >>> Cancer Research Works! But only with our help. Please make a gift today to help advance breakthroughs in cancer research with NFCR. About Dr. Haber Dr. Daniel Haber has received NFCR support since 2000, which has helped yield many discoveries, including the development of the initial CTC-ichip. Dr. Haber is currently collaborating with Esther Rheinbay, PhD, also of Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, to identify therapeutic targets that may lead to novel therapies for the most deadly subtype of breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). About Dr. Bardia Dr. Aditya Bardia is working to address the unmet need of metastasis in aggressive triple-negative breast cancers using CTC detection technology with NFCR support. Dr. Bardia is using CTCs to develop a diagnostic test for one of the newest treatments, Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs), and accelerate the development of novel precision antibody-based therapies for patients with metastatic breast [...]

Early Detection Tools Saving Time and Saving Lives

A new test can identify a range of cancers in patients with non-specific symptoms. One of the most troubling things about cancer is the time it can take to reach a diagnosis if the symptoms are not clear-cut. While some cancers are easy to identify and test for, some patients spend months battling symptoms such as fatigue and weight loss before the correct tests are ordered. A University of Oxford study recently highlighted a new type of blood test that can detect a range of cancers and whether these cancers have spread (metastasized) in the body. This test will allow patients to access treatment faster.  The study analyzed samples from 300 patients with non-specific but concerning cancer symptoms, such as fatigue and weight loss, to determine whether this new testing method could identify patients with a range of solid tumors from those without cancer. After successfully testing animal models, the researchers were pleased to see that the success was transferable to humans.  Study Results The results show that this test correctly detected cancer in 19 out of every 20 patients and 94% accuracy in identifying metastasis. These results make this test the first technology able to determine the metastatic status of cancer from a simple blood test without prior knowledge of the primary cancer type. Study Impact The ability to detect cancers earlier means patients are more likely to have successful treatment outcomes. This rapid and inexpensive test could help overcome many barriers to the early detection of cancer, especially in patients with non-specific symptoms, which do not direct investigations toward a specific organ and rare cancers. These game-changing findings exhilarate cancer experts across the globe. The high success rates of this study suggest that medical professionals will soon be able to accurately, timely, and cost-effectively diagnose patients with suspected cancer. This development will save patients time, money, and – most importantly – their lives. While these findings are exciting, the tests are not yet widely available. Future studies with larger patient cohorts must further evaluate this technique for the earlier detection of new cancers and potential clinical applications. Accelerating Promising Cancer Research Discoveries like these accelerate medical professionals towards finding a cure for cancers. The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) proudly presents the Salisbury Award Competition, which helps oncology startups accelerate their findings to benefit the cancer community. This program offers a unique opportunity for other promising research deemed high-risk, high-impact ideas, a core value of NFCR.  If you would like to help accelerate cancer research technology and treatment, please make a gift today.  Additional Reads You May Enjoy:  WATCH: How NFCR Plans to Increase Its Impact for Cancer Patients Efficiently Eliminating Metastasized Melanoma Cells Research Highlight: Preventing Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis Stay connected with the cancer community! Receive NFCR’s monthly e-newsletter and blogs featuring stories of inspiration, support resources, cancer prevention tips, and more. Sign up here.

Controlling the Uncontrollable: HER2 Breast Cancer

It’s that time of year when pink ribbons begin appearing everywhere – from shopfronts to social media. These ribbons are known to be Breast Cancer Awareness ribbons. It’s no coincidence that pink ribbons are the most easily recognized as breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. In fact, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.  Tragically, the likelihood of experiencing metastasis, or cancer that spreads to other parts of the body, is high amongst these patients. Understanding and preventing metastasis is crucial to increasing the survival rates of this disease. Thankfully, National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR)-funded researcher Dr. Rakesh K. Jain and his team are dedicated to exploring this phenomenon and recently unearthed a game-changing discovery.  Their mission: HER2 Dr. Jain and his team knew that genes contain the recipes for various proteins required for healthy cells to function properly and that some genes and proteins can influence how breast cancer behaves and responds to treatment. They were particularly interested in exploring how to control and inhibit metastasis in one particular gene related to breast cancer, the HER2 gene.  The HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) gene makes HER2 proteins, which are receptors on breast cells. Typically, HER2 receptors help control how a healthy breast cell grows, divides, and repairs itself. But in about 10% to 20% of breast cancers, the HER2 gene doesn’t work correctly and makes too many copies of itself (known as HER2 gene amplification). These extra HER2 genes tell breast cells to make too many HER2 receptors which makes breast cells grow and divide in an uncontrolled way. Patients with metastatic HER2+ breast cancer often experience treatment resistance, disease recurrences, and metastases. Dr. Jain and his team believed that by modifying the tumor framework and increasing oxygenation in the tumor, it might be possible for an existing medication to improve the outcome of radiotherapy and inhibit disease progression in a highly metastatic HER2+ breast cancer. Their findings The team established a metastatic HER2+ breast cancer line and used it to generate a similar environment in mice. Three days after tumor implantation, Dr. Jain and his team administered seven days of Losartan, a drug mainly used to treat high blood pressure. In some mice, the research team followed the seven days of Losartan with 20 Gy single dose local irradiation on day 10. In a third group, they followed the seven days of Losartan with 20 Gy fractionated irradiation on days 10-14. For each group, the researchers analyzed the tumor-growth delay, development of metastases, survival rates, tumor density, and oxygen levels in the tumor.  Much to the excitement of cancer researchers worldwide, the combination of Losartan and local irradiation significantly enhanced tumor response. The tumors were deprived of oxygen, whereas healthy cells remained oxygen-rich. This finding suggests that combining Losartan with radiotherapy is a potential new treatment strategy for controlling and inhibiting metastasis in HER2+ breast cancer – a potentially life-saving discovery. Other exciting HER2 discoveries  HER2 has been a hot topic in the cancer world for years. In fact, Dr. Jain is just one of the NFCR-funded researchers paving the way to better treatment options related to HER2. Dr. […]