Journal Article DKFZ-2026-02396

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A transient MXD4-dependent proliferative pause enables survival of brain micrometastases.

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2026
Cell Press Cambridge, Mass.

Cancer cell nn, nn () [10.1016/j.ccell.2026.09.002]
 GO

Abstract: Successful metastatic colonization requires cancer cells to survive multiple stresses during early organ adaptation, yet how metastasis-initiating cells overcome this bottleneck remains unknown. Here, we identify a transient MXD4-dependent proliferative pause that enables aggressive cancer cells to survive early brain colonization. Before vascular co-option-associated outgrowth, metastatic cells temporarily restrain proliferation through the MYC antagonist MXD4, buffering stresses encountered after extravasation. Genetic disruption of MXD4 compromises survival of micrometastases, preventing their progression to macrometastases. Analyses of human brain micrometastases validate this transient adaptive state in patients. Exploiting vulnerabilities associated with the proliferative pause reveals preventive therapeutic opportunities across experimental settings, including spontaneous brain metastasis models and minimal residual disease following neurosurgical resection. In addition, patient-derived organotypic cultures confirm the feasibility of targeting this state with clinically available drugs. These findings uncover a previously unrecognized adaptive stage during metastatic colonization and identify actionable vulnerabilities to prevent brain metastasis progression and relapse.

Keyword(s): autopsies ; brain metastasis ; metastasis initiating cells ; micrometastasis ; organ colonization ; perivascular niche ; prevention ; relapse ; vascular co-option ; window of opportunity

Classification:

Note: #DKTKZFB26# / #NCTZFB26# / epub

Contributing Institute(s):
  1. DKTK Koordinierungsstelle Dresden (DD01)
  2. Koordinierungsstelle NCT Dresden (DD04)
Research Program(s):
  1. 899 - ohne Topic (POF4-899) (POF4-899)

Appears in the scientific report 2026
Database coverage:
Medline ; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Clinical Medicine ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 50 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection
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 Record created 2026-09-29, last modified 2026-09-30



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