What is it about?
The genes and gene expression programs that promote metastasis are still incompletely understood. Here, we developed a system to identify genes that regulate metastatic progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) using advanced mouse models of CRC. This approach uncovered two key genes whose loss dramatically increases CRC metastasis. This implies that approaches to stabilize the expression of these genes could help prevent metastatic spread of CRC.
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Why is it important?
This is important because metastasis is the most deadly, yet least well understood component of cancer progression. The more we understand about the molecular basis of metastasis, the more we may be able to use this knowledge to advance therapeutics that target metastatic progression.
Perspectives
Studies like this make the hard work that goes into scientific research worth it. In this study I worked with wonderful colleagues, united by the drive to understand a clinically-relevant, yet molecularly mysterious biological process. I'm proud of all the people who worked on this project, and I'm very excited to move forward with the next research steps we can take to understand the devastating disease that is colorectal cancer metastasis.
Andres Blanco
University of Pennsylvania
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Forward genetic screening in engineered colorectal cancer organoids identifies regulators of metastasis, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, November 2025, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2510910122.
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