Histopathological growth patterns represent a dynamic biological and clinically-relevant terminus of the metastatic cascade.
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- 2Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, 1160 Pine Avenue West, Room 513, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A3, Canada.
- 3Department of Cancer Research, Ziekenhuis Aan de Stroom (ZAS) Campus Augustinus, Antwerp, Belgium.
- 4Center for Oncological Research (CORE), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
- 5Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. [email protected].
- 6Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, 1160 Pine Avenue West, Room 513, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A3, Canada. [email protected].
Abstract
The metastatic cascade describes the series of steps by which cancer cells travel from the tumor of origin to a distant site of metastasis. Successful colonization and formation of macrometastases are generally regarded as the terminus of the metastatic cascade. However, a growing body of literature points to the importance of inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity during the growth of established metastases, which manifests as distinct histopathological growth patterns (HGPs). HGPs refer to the dynamic interface between cancer cells, stromal cells and parenchymal cells within the metastasis-bearing organ. In several metastatic niches, such as the liver and brain, unique HGPs have been described that reveal aspects of intrinsic disease biology and have important implications for patient survival and therapy response. With emerging technologies, recent studies have revealed spatial insights pertaining to cancer cell-tumor microenvironment interactions at distinct metastatic sites. Herein, we describe the clinical and biological relevance of the dynamic interplay between cancer cells and the native liver or brain cells in the context of metastases from adult solid tumors. When applicable, we draw comparisons between metastatic sites and identify common themes by which HGP and components of the tumor microenvironment can be exploited for therapeutic intervention.
Related
- Metachronous Metastatic Invasive Breast Carcinoma and Metastatic Small Cell Carcinoma Clinically and Radiologically Favoured to Be of Pulmonary Origin: A Case Report
- Molecular, histopathological, and clinical risk factors for overall metastatic disease and brain metastases in surgically resected stage I-III lung cancer.
- Clinical and histopathological patterns of American cutaneous leishmaniasis: diagnostic and therapeutic implications for targeted therapy
- Characterization and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Clinically Significant Non-fermenting Gram-Negative Bacilli Isolated From Clinical Specimens
- Imaging-Based Tumor Margin Patterns and Primary Tumor Categories and Their Association with Adverse Histopathological Features in Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
BibTeX
@article{dankner2026histopathological,
title = {{Histopathological growth patterns represent a dynamic biological and clinically-relevant terminus of the metastatic cascade.}},
author = {Matthew Dankner and Sébastien Tabariès and Charlotte Girondel and Yasmine Sillis and Peter B Vermeulen and Peter M Siegel},
journal = {Cancer metastasis reviews},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1007/s10555-026-10389-0},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42925343},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Histopathological growth patterns represent a dynamic biological and clinically-relevant terminus of the metastatic cascade.
AU - Matthew Dankner
AU - Sébastien Tabariès
AU - Charlotte Girondel
AU - Yasmine Sillis
AU - Peter B Vermeulen
AU - Peter M Siegel
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/24
JO - Cancer metastasis reviews
DO - 10.1007/s10555-026-10389-0
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42925343
AB - The metastatic cascade describes the series of steps by which cancer cells travel from the tumor of origin to a distant site of metastasis. Successful colonization and formation of macrometastases are generally regarded as the terminus of the metastatic cascade. However, a growing body of literature points to the importance of inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity during the growth of established metastases, which manifests as distinct histopathological growth patterns (HGPs). HGPs refer to the dynamic interface between cancer cells, stromal cells and parenchymal cells within the metastasis-bearing organ. In several metastatic niches, such as the liver and brain, unique HGPs have been described that reveal aspects of intrinsic disease biology and have important implications for patient survival and therapy response. With emerging technologies, recent studies have revealed spatial insights pertaining to cancer cell-tumor microenvironment interactions at distinct metastatic sites. Herein, we describe the clinical and biological relevance of the dynamic interplay between cancer cells and the native liver or brain cells in the context of metastases from adult solid tumors. When applicable, we draw comparisons between metastatic sites and identify common themes by which HGP and components of the tumor microenvironment can be exploited for therapeutic intervention.
SN - 0167-7659
SN - 1573-7233
ER -