A 3D morphogenetic blueprint for metastatic outgrowth in breast cancer - PubMed
3 hours ago
- #breast cancer metastasis
- #3D morphogenesis
- #therapeutic vulnerabilities
- The study uncovers a 3D morphogenetic process called metastatic trabecular morphogenesis (MTM) essential for macrometastatic expansion in breast cancer.
- MTM redeploys developmental branching morphogenesis, building macrometastases as a 3D trabecular lattice of epithelial cords.
- MTMHIGH cells pre-exist in primary tumors destined to metastasize, while MTMLOW primaries are non-metastatic with compact growth architecture.
- ETV1/4/5 are identified as master regulators of MTM and branching cancer morphogenesis, required for metastatic outgrowth but dispensable for primary tumor take and initial dissemination.
- Stromal fibroblast growth factor (FGF)→FGFR signaling is revealed as an actionable dependency for MTM, exposing therapeutic vulnerabilities specific to the macrometastatic stage.