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Cancer Metastasis: Tracking and Attacking a Moving Target

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Genomic Instability and Cancer Metastasis

Part of the book series: Cancer Metastasis - Biology and Treatment ((CMBT,volume 20))

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Abstract

The effective treatment of metastatic cancer is complicated by both the diverse set of dysregulated molecular pathways contributing to cancer progression and the challenge of aiming clinical therapies at a seemingly unpredictable moving target. From an evolutionary perspective, metastasis can be considered as a process during which novel cell populations are generated that can exploit the unique tissue environments they encounter at a secondary tissue site and in response to treatment. In this review, we explore metastasis as a consequence of evolution on the scale of tumor cells within the individual patient. The survivability of any individual cancer cell, and as a consequence, the success of any broad-based or targeted therapy to treat that patient, may best be understood in terms of selective advantage and phenotypic changes resulting from genomic drift among cells from the original tumor. These drivers of evolution can generate successful metastatic cells that either survive as dormant cells, or thrive as secondary tumors during the time course of the disease. The metastatic target is thus dynamic, requiring a dynamic approach to treatment. Here we will discuss the growing information about heterogeneity and evolution of metastatic cell populations, and how this information impacts on treatment strategies that will be needed to combat metastatic disease.

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Acknowledgements

AFC is Canada Research Chair in Oncology, supported by the Canada Research Chairs Program. AFC is Director of the Pamela Greenaway-Kohlmeier Translational Breast Cancer Research Unit, supported in part by the Breast Cancer Society of Canada.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, Western University, London, ON, Canada

    David I. Rodenhiser & Ann F. Chambers

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada

    David I. Rodenhiser

  3. Department of Paediatrics, Western University, London, ON, Canada

    David I. Rodenhiser

  4. Department of Pathology, Western University, London, ON, Canada

    Ann F. Chambers

  5. Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, ON, Canada

    Ann F. Chambers

  6. Children’s Health Research Institute, Lawson Research Institute, London, ON, Canada

    David I. Rodenhiser

  7. London Regional Cancer Program, 790 Commissioners Road East, N6A 4L6, London, ON, Canada

    David I. Rodenhiser & Ann F. Chambers

Authors
  1. David I. Rodenhiser
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  2. Ann F. Chambers
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Correspondence to David I. Rodenhiser .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Child & Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Pediatrics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Chris Maxwell

  2. Dept of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Dept. of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Cal Roskelley

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Rodenhiser, D., Chambers, A. (2015). Cancer Metastasis: Tracking and Attacking a Moving Target. In: Maxwell, C., Roskelley, C. (eds) Genomic Instability and Cancer Metastasis. Cancer Metastasis - Biology and Treatment, vol 20. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12136-9_1

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