Deciphering the Role of Cancer Stem Cells in Breast Cancer Brain Colonization Using a Novel Patient-Derived Model - PubMed
7 hours ago
- #Brain Metastasis
- #Cancer Stem Cells
- #Breast Cancer
- A novel patient-derived model isolates cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) from human breast cancer brain metastases (BCBM) and characterizes their stem-like properties.
- These CSCs demonstrate the ability to generate brain and bone metastases in xenograft models, recapitulating patient-specific dissemination patterns.
- A metastasis-initiating cell (MIC) subpopulation within CSCs is identified, enriched in stemness and adhesion pathways, and shows enhanced brain-specific transcriptomic reprogramming.
- MICs enable vascular co-option, resist stromal stress, and interact with brain-resident cells to promote survival, highlighting their key role in brain colonization.
- High-throughput drug screening reveals broad therapeutic resistance in the CSC compartment, emphasizing the need for targeted strategies against CSCs and MICs.