Loading
Cancer Cells and Metastasis / Cancer Research and Treatments · Journal article
Oncogene · August 12, 2026
Raises a question worth testing. It does not answer one.
This is a narrative review examining the biological basis of metastatic cancer, covering dissemination, dormancy, colonization, and therapy resistance across genomic, microenvironmental, and clinical domains. It synthesizes current knowledge rather than presenting new empirical evidence, and concludes that advances in single-cell and spatial multi-omics technologies are transforming interrogation of metastatic disease.
Narrative review. Clinical metastatic cancer; review spanning dissemination, dormancy, colonization, and therapy resistance.
Evidence exists for both early and late dissemination of metastatic clones Organ-specific microenvironments shape metastatic outgrowth and therapeutic response Wound-healing and regenerative programs are co-opted during colonization
Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.
This review contextualizes metastatic cancer biology for clinicians and researchers, highlighting that current therapeutic strategies are guided predominantly by primary tumor insights despite distinct metastatic biology. It suggests that emerging multi-omics technologies may improve understanding and treatment of metastatic disease.
This is a narrative review synthesizing current knowledge on metastatic cancer biology; it raises questions and synthesizes existing evidence rather than presenting new empirical findings or a definitive answer.
As stated by the source record.
This review contextualizes metastatic cancer biology for clinicians and researchers, highlighting that current therapeutic strategies are guided predominantly by primary tumor insights despite distinct metastatic biology. It suggests that emerging multi-omics technologies may improve understanding and treatment of metastatic disease.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
What is missing. This record has no reported figures. That is a gap in the analysis, not a judgement about the study.
Abstract Metastatic cancer remains largely incurable and is responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths. Despite this, therapeutic strategies are still predominantly guided by insights from primary tumors, often overlooking the distinct biological features of clinical metastases. In this Review, we provide an overview of current knowledge on clinical metastatic cancer, spanning dissemination, dormancy, colonization, and therapy resistance. We examine the genomic evolution of metastatic clones, including evidence for both early and late dissemination, as well as the impact of treatment-driven selection. Furthermore, we highlight how organ-specific microenvironments shape metastatic outgrowth and therapeutic response and explore how wound-healing and regenerative programs are co-opted during colonization. Finally, we discuss clinical perspectives on treating metastases and outline how advances in single-cell and spatial multi-omics technologies are transforming our ability to interrogate metastatic disease at high resolution, concluding with future perspectives.
Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.