Researchers reviewed how cancer spreads, known as metastasis, to different organs. They found that each organ has a unique environment where cancer cells must adapt to survive. These locations, called niches, are shaped by local blood vessels and specific immune cells.
In the lungs, certain cells can switch from fighting tumors to helping them grow. In the liver, specific cells might hide cancer from the body's immune system, which could make some treatments less effective. The brain and bones also have unique barriers and environments that cancer cells use to stay hidden or grow more easily.
Because these areas are so different, experts suggest that future treatments should be more precise. Instead of targeting every cell of a certain type throughout the whole body, doctors may eventually target only the specific areas where cancer is hiding. This review provides an overview of how local environments influence cancer behavior.
Common questions
Why does cancer behave differently in different organs?
Cancer behaves differently because each organ has a unique environment. For example, the liver uses specific cells to manage waste and immune tolerance, while the bone has specialized vessels that cancer cells use to hide from the immune system. These local environments shape how the cancer grows.
How do lung and liver environments affect cancer?
In the lungs, certain blood vessel cells and macrophages can switch from controlling tumors to supporting them. In the liver, specific cells like Kupffer cells can create a state of immune tolerance that might make it harder for systemic immunotherapies to work.
What is the role of blood vessels in cancer spread?
Blood vessels are critical because they form the interface where cancer cells first meet the body's immune system. The specific types of cells making up these vessels, such as those in the brain or bone, determine if a cancer cell can enter and adapt to that organ.
