Extracellular vesicles secreted by triple-negative breast cancer stem cells trigger premetastatic niche remodeling and metastatic growth in the lungs

Tumor secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) are potent intercellular signaling platforms. They are responsible for the accommodation of the premetastatic niche (PMN) to support cancer cell engraftment and metastatic growth. However, complex cancer cell composition within the tumor increases also the heterogeneity among cancer secreted EVs subsets, a functional diversity that has been poorly explored. This phenomenon is particularly relevant in highly plastic and heterogenous triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), in which a significant representation of malignant cancer stem cells (CSCs) is displayed. Herein, we selectively isolated and characterized EVs from CSC or differentiated cancer cells (DCC; EVs^CSC and EVs^DCC, respectively) from the MDA-MB-231 TNBC cell line. Our results showed that EVs^CSC and EVs^DCC contain distinct bioactive cargos and therefore elicit a differential effect on stromal cells in the TME. Specifically, EVs^DCC activated secretory cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), triggering IL-6/IL-8 signaling and sustaining CSC phenotype maintenance. Complementarily, EVs^CSC promoted the activation of α-SMA+ myofibroblastic CAFs subpopulations and increased the endothelial remodeling, enhancing the invasive potential of TNBC cells in vitro and in vivo. In addition, solely the EVs^CSC mediated signaling prompted the transformation of healthy lungs into receptive niches able to support metastatic growth of breast cancer cells.     

Incidence of cerebral metastases in patients treated with trastuzumab for metastatic breast cancer

Trastuzumab is an effective treatment for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) that overexpresses HER-2. A high incidence of brain metastases (BM) has been noted in patients receiving trastuzumab. A retrospective chart review was conducted of 100 patients commencing trastuzumab for metastatic breast cancer from July 1999 to December 2002, at the Christie Hospital. Seven patients were excluded; five patients developed central nervous system metastases prior to starting trastuzumab, and inadequate data were available for two. Out of the remaining 93 patients, 23 (25%) have developed BM to date. In all, 46 patients have died, and of these 18 (39%) have been diagnosed with BM prior to death. Of the 23 patients developing BM, 18 (78%) were hormone receptor negative and 18 (78%) had visceral disease. Univariate analysis showed a significant association between the development of cerebral disease and both hormone receptor status and the presence of visceral disease. In conclusion, a high proportion of patients with MBC treated with trastuzumab develop symptomatic cerebral metastases. HER-2-positive breast cancer may have a predilection for the brain, or trastuzumab therapy may change the disease pattern by prolonging survival. New strategies to address this problem require investigation in this group of patients.     

Chemotherapy and pattern of metastases in breast cancer patients

A retrospective analysis of all breast cancer patients who died of their disease at Harper Grace Hospital during 1962 to 1976, was conducted to determine the pattern of metastases and its relation to chemotherapy. The autopsy incidence of distant metastases, to all organ sites, was noted to be higher among patients who previously received cytotoxic therapy, compared with those who did not. Such incidence was unrelated to differences in patients' age, menopausal status, and disease-free interval. It is postulated that chemotherapy contributes to the wider metastases, especially to the central nervous system and meninges, in a breast cancer patient. This is possibly due to a longer survival of patients treated.     

Bone metastases: When and how lung cancer interacts with bone

Bone metastasis is a common and debilitating consequence of lung cancer: 30%-40% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer develop bone metastases during the course of their disease. Lung cancer cells find a favorable soil in the bone microenvironment due to factors released by the bone matrix, the immune system cells, and the same cancer cells. Many aspects of the cross-talk among lung tumor cells, the immune system, and bone cells are not clear, but this review aims to summarize the recent findings in this field, with particular attention to studies conducted to identify biomarkers for early detection of lung cancer bone metastases.     

激素受体阳性乳腺癌脑转移药物治疗研究进展

目的 乳腺癌是仅次于肺癌最易发生脑转移的原发肿瘤.激素受体阳性乳腺癌是转移性乳腺癌的主体,脑转移是该类患者的主要死亡原因,但目前对于激素受体阳性乳腺癌脑转移(breast cancer brain metastases,BCBM)的有效治疗报道较少.本研究旨探讨激素受体阳性BCBM药物治疗的相关研究进展.方法 应用PubMed及CNKI期刊全文数据库检索系统,以"乳腺癌、脑转移和激素受体阳性乳腺癌"等为,检索2005-01-2016-06相关文献,共检测到中文文献128条,英文文献55条.纳入标准:1)BCBM的危险因素及其预后;2)BCBM的当前治疗选择;3)激素受体阳性BCBM药物治疗.根据纳入标准,符合分析的文献25篇.结果限制BCBM药物治疗进展的主要原因是血脑屏障的存在.激素在BCBM治疗中的疗效尚不明确,但有大量个案报道他莫昔芬等内分泌药物对BCBM治疗有效.非对照试验表明某些细胞毒类药物,如卡培他滨、替莫唑胺(temozolomide,TMZ)和卡莫司汀晶片植入剂,对激素受体阳性BCBM有效,但没有足够证据支持具体的治疗方案.免疫抑制剂abemaciclib在激素受体阳性BCBM患者中的应用正处于Ⅱ期临床试验阶段.虽然高分子药物难以通过完整的血脑屏障,但研究证实部分单克隆抗体,如曲妥珠单抗和贝伐单抗,对BCBM治疗有效.纳米药物传递系统能提高中枢神经系统药物转移,有较好发展前景.由纳米颗粒包裹的多柔比星和etirinotecanpegol对治疗激素受体阳性BCBM有一定的疗效.结论尽管目前没有专门批准用于激素受体阳性BCBM系统治疗的药物,但有大量的临床试验正在进行中,将为临床治疗带来启示.     

Brain metastases in patients who receive trastuzumab-containing chemotherapy for HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer

Background  Recently, a high rate of brain metastases has been reported among patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer who were treated with trastuzumab. The present study examined risk factors for the development of brain metastasis in patients with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer who were treated with trastuzumab. Methods  We retrospectively reviewed 204 patients with HER-2-overexpressing breast cancer who were treated with a trastuzumab-containing regimen between 1999 and 2006. Patients with clinical symptoms were diagnosed as having brain metastases when brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a computed tomography (CT) scan revealed positive findings for brain metastases. The median follow-up time of this cohort was 53.6 months. Results  Among the patients who received a trastuzumabcontaining regimen, 74 patients (36.3%) developed brain metastases. The median survival from the diagnosis of brain metastases was 13.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.2–14.7 months). The median time interval between the beginning of trastuzumab treatment and the diagnosis of brain metastases was 13.6 months (range, 0.0–45.8 months). Among patients with brain metastases, the median overall survival period was 39 months. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (≤50 years), recurrent breast cancer, and liver metastases were significant risk factors for the development of brain metastases. Conclusion  Patients with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer treated with trastuzumab had a high incidence of brain metastases (36.3%). Routine screening for brain metastases 1 year after the start of trastuzumab treatment, may be warranted in younger patients (≤50 years) who had recurrent breast cancer with liver metastases.     

Brain metastases in breast cancer

Despite therapeutic advances, the development of breast cancer brain metastases (BCBM) is still the harbinger of a dismal prognosis. Patient outcomes vary depending on factors, including tumor phenotype, extent of disease within and outside the brain, as well as patient performance status. Treatment includes surgery, radiation therapy and systemic therapy determined by patient and tumor characteristics. Despite these approaches, novel treatments are needed and there is growing interest in systemic therapies. However, the efficacy of pharmacologic agents is hampered by poor penetration of drugs across the blood–brain barrier. Therefore, there is a pressing need for a greater understanding of the natural history of BCBM to guide the development of further therapies. This review analyzes prognosis and treatment of BCBM by tumor phenotype and discusses ongoing research into new therapies.     

Diagnosis and management of spinal metastases from breast cancer

Conclusions Metastases to the spine is a common manifestation of breast cancer leading to considerable reduction in the patient's quality of life due to troublesome back pain and neurologic morbidity. It is not uncommon for spinal metastases to be an early and predominant manifestation of the patients systemic disease process. Although the breast cancer must be considered to be advanced, these patients will frequently have a reasonable functional status at the time of diagnosis of the spinal metastases. Accordingly, an aggressive approach of management should be considered in such patients so as to potentially achieve the most effective palliation. In the setting of breast cancer metastatic to the spine, radiation/systemic steroidal therapy remains the first line of management. The principle exception favoring primary surgical management is roentgenographic evidence of spinal instability related to the vertebral involvement by the metastatic process. The surgical team must also remain ready to intervene early with surgical decompression and spinal stabilization when any neurologic deterioration occurs during radiation therapy. When surgery is indicated, the anterior transthoracic approach to spinal metastases is an effective means of palliating these breast cancer patients.A team approach involving the spinal surgeon, thoracic surgeon and anesthesiologist optimizes the care of the patient requiring thoracic spinal decompression of metastatic disease. Involvement of the thoracic surgeon in these patients care can result in expeditious thoracic exposure of the pathologic area of concern and valuable contribution to the post-operative care of these unfortunate patients.     

Cutaneous metastases of lung cancer

It is uncommon for a cancer to be diagnosed because of skin metastases. Cutaneous metastases as initial manifestation of internal neoplasias, represent only 0.8% of total cases and implies, in general, a very advanced grade of the disease and short survival. When skin metastases of an unknown primary site appear, lung cancer is the first option to be discarded in case of men, and breast cancer in case of women. Lung cancer spreads to the skin in 2.8–8.7% of the cases, in advanced phases of the disease, although just in 7–23.8% of the cases, cutaneous metastases appear as first manifestation of the primary tumor. Sometimes, a complete examination to discover the tumor reveals no metastases elsewhere.     

Intravenous ibandronate reduces the incidence of skeletal complications in patients with breast cancer and bone metastases.

BACKGROUND: This phase III study compared the efficacy of the new potent bisphosphonate, ibandronate, with placebo as intravenous (i.v.) therapy in metastatic bone disease due to breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 466 patients were randomised to receive placebo (n = 158), or 2 mg (n = 154) or 6 mg (n = 154) ibandronate every 3-4 weeks for up to 2 years. The primary efficacy parameter was the number of 12-week periods with new bone complications, expressed as the skeletal morbidity period rate (SMPR). Bone pain, analgesic use and safety were evaluated monthly. Results SMPR was lower in both ibandronate groups compared with the placebo group; the difference was statistically significant for the ibandronate 6 mg group (P = 0.004 versus placebo). Consistent with the SMPR, ibandronate 6 mg significantly reduced the number of new bone events (by 38%) and increased time to first new bone event. Patients on ibandronate 6 mg also experienced decreased bone pain scores and analgesic use. Treatment with ibandronate was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that 6 mg i.v. ibandronate is effective and safe in the treatment of bone metastases from breast cancer.     

Possible factors in remote metastases in female breast cancer

The association of metastases (M) with age of patient, stage of disease, the gross and microscopic characteristics of the primary tumor, its physical location, the postradiational status of the breast, the extent and level of histological nodal involvement, the type of surgery practiced, and the host's biological environment are analysed. The authors conclude that the critical factor in systemic dissemination in female breast cancer is the extent and level of metastatic nodal involvement. Though the association between stage of disease, character of tumor (T), and histology are significant, the crucial factor seems to be the nodal involvement. Systemic metastases are significantly higher in inner quadrant tumors. Possible methods of circumventing this dissemination are discussed.     

Brain metastases admissions in Sweden between 1987 and 2006

Background:

Brain metastases (BM) constitute the most common intracranial tumours and are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Population-based studies of the epidemiology and time trends of BM are scarce.

Methods:

A population-based cohort of patients admitted to hospital with BM in Sweden between 1987 and 2006 (n=15 517) was identified and linked to nationwide registers of cancer incidence and death. Primary cancer types were assessed and time to hospitalisation and death was computed.

Results:

The annual age-adjusted incidence rate of hospitalisation for BM doubled from 7 to 14 patients per 100 000 between 1987 and 2006. The most common primary tumours among women were lung (33%), breast (33%) and colorectal cancer (7%), and among men lung cancer (44%), malignant melanoma (12%) and colorectal cancer (9%). The increase was most evident for BM patients with lung cancer (both sexes) and breast cancer (women). Survival was short, with a median of 2.7 months. It varied little by cancer type and did not improve over calendar time.

Conclusion:

The number of patients admitted with BM has increased rapidly in Sweden. In spite of recent improvements in the prognosis of common primary cancer types, any parallel improvement among patients with advanced cancer and BM is not indicated.     

Hepatectomy increases metastatic graft and growth in an immunocompetent murine model of peritoneal metastases

Background

Curative surgery of synchronous peritoneal metastases (PM) and colorectal liver metastases (LM) has been recently investigated as feasible option. When synchronous peritoneal and liver resection is not achievable, the sequence of the surgery remains unknown. Our hypothesis was that liver resection (LR) promotes peritoneal growth resulting in a non-resectable PM. We sought to analyse the effects of major LR and liver regeneration after hepatectomy in a murine model of PM and the associated angiogenesis.

非小细胞肺癌脑转移的研究进展

非小细胞肺癌脑转移的治疗对肿瘤学家是一种挑战。虽然近年脑转移研究有所进展,但生存率并不乐观。本文阐述非小细胞肺癌脑转移的临床特点、诊断方法、预后因素以及治疗进展。脑转移最常见的症状为因颅内压力增高所致的头痛。评价脑转移时,头颅MRI较CT优越。最常用的预后标准是肿瘤放射治疗组(RTOG)的RPA分级。关于全脑放疗、立体定向放射外科、手术以及化疗治疗脑转移的作用仍存在争议。全脑放疗常作为脑转移的标准治疗方案。SRS对单一或多个脑转移灶的治疗可代替外科切除。许多数据证明化疗有较好的颅内作用,这引起全身化疗治疗脑转移的研究热点。确立预后因素和其他临床特点后,才能制定最适合个体患者的治疗。     

Systemic inflammation promotes lung metastasis via E-selectin upregulation in mouse breast cancer model

Systemic inflammation might modulate the microenvironment in the lungs and promotes metastasis. E-selectin, an inflammation inducible endothelial cell adhesion molecule, has been reported to play an important role in homing metastatic cancer cells. To study the effects of E-selectin expression induced by systemic inflammation on breast cancer metastasis, we first treated BALB/c mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce systemic inflammation. Pulmonary tissues were analyzed by wet/dry ratio, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry. Then 4T1 cells were injected via tail vein. Lung surface metastasis was counted and detected by histological analysis. LPS-induced E-selectin expression and tumor cells adhesion were assessed by western blotting and immunofluorescence. The circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines in sera were evaluated by ELISA. Our results showed that a significant increase in breast cancer metastasis to lungs was observed in LPS-treated mice vs. the PBS-treated mice, accompanying with an increased E-selectin expression in pulmonary tissue of LPS-treated mice. In vitro studies showed a significant elevation of E-selectin production in MPVECs which enhanced the adhesion activity of 4T1 cells. Treatment with anti-E-selectin antibody significantly reduced the development of metastasis in vivo, and significantly reduced the adhesion of 4T1 cells to MPVECs in vitro. Our results suggest that systemic inflammation may increase the expression of E-selectin which mediated the lung metastasis of breast cancer in mouse model.     

Sites of distant recurrence and clinical outcomes in patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer: high incidence of central nervous system metastases

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the current study was to characterize the outcomes of patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancers, including the risk and clinical consequences of central nervous system (CNS) recurrence. METHODS: Using pharmacy and pathology records, a study group of 116 patients who were treated for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute between January 2000 and June 2006 was identified. RESULTS: The median survival from time of metastatic diagnosis was 13.3 months. Sixteen patients (14%) were diagnosed with CNS involvement at the time of initial metastatic diagnosis; overall, 46% of patients were diagnosed with CNS metastases before death. The median survival after a diagnosis of CNS metastasis was 4.9 months. The age-adjusted and race-adjusted rate of death for patients whose first presentation included a CNS metastasis was 3.4 times (95% confidence interval, 1.9-6.1 times) that of patients without a CNS lesion at the time of first metastatic presentation. Of the 53 patients who developed brain metastases, only 3 patients were judged to have stable or responsive systemic disease in the face of progressive CNS disease at the last follow-up before death. CONCLUSIONS: Triple-negative breast cancer is associated with poor survival after recurrence. CNS recurrence is common, but death as a direct consequence of CNS progression in the setting of controlled systemic disease is uncommon. Thus, it does not appear that the high rate of CNS involvement is because of a sanctuary effect, but rather is due to the lack of effective therapies in general for this aggressive subtype of breast cancer. New treatment strategies are needed.     

Incidence and time trends of brain metastases admissions among breast cancer patients in Sweden

Background:

While treatment for breast cancer has been refined and overall survival has improved, there is concern that the incidence of brain metastases has increased.

Methods:

We identified patients in Sweden with incident breast cancer 1998–2006 in the National Cancer Register, and matched these to the National Patient Register to obtain information on hospital admissions for distant metastases. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed with Cox regression as estimates of relative risk.

Results:

Among 50 528 breast cancer patients, 696 (1.4%) were admitted with brain metastases during median 3.5 years of follow-up. Admissions for other metastases were found in 3470 (6.9%) patients. Compared with the period 1998–2000, patients diagnosed with breast cancer 2004–2006 were at a 44% increased risk of being admitted with brain metastases (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.13–1.85).

Conclusion:

The incidence of admissions with brain metastases in breast cancer patients was increasing in the mid-2000s in Sweden. These findings support a true increase in incidence of brain metastases among breast cancer patients.     

Skin metastases as first manifestation of lung cancer

Skin metastases as manifestation of internal neoplasias constitute a 0.8% of their initial presentation¹ and generally imply an advanced stage of the disease and a short survival². The lung cancer metastasises to the skin in 2.8–24% of the cases, generally in advanced stages of the disease, although in 7–19%, skin metastases appear as first manifestation thereof^1,3. Sometimes, the study of the extent in the patients reveals that there are no metastases at other levels. We hereby present the case of a male diagnosed with a lung cancer whose first manifestation was the appearance of skin metastases.     

Epidemiology of brain metastases and leptomeningeal disease

Brain metastases affect a significant percentage of patients with advanced extracranial malignancies. Yet, the incidence of brain metastases remains poorly described, largely due to limitations of population-based registries, a lack of mandated reporting of brain metastases to federal agencies, and historical difficulties with delineation of metastatic involvement of individual organs using claims data. However, in 2016, the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program released data relating to the presence vs absence of brain metastases at diagnosis of oncologic disease. In 2020, studies demonstrating the viability of utilizing claims data for identifying the presence of brain metastases, date of diagnosis of intracranial involvement, and initial treatment approach for brain metastases were published, facilitating epidemiologic investigations of brain metastases on a population-based level. Accordingly, in this review, we discuss the incidence, clinical presentation, prognosis, and management patterns of patients with brain metastases. Leptomeningeal disease is also discussed. Considerations regarding individual tumor types that commonly metastasize to the brain are provided.