A new study has provided valuable insights into breast cancer leptomeningeal metastasis (BCLM), a complication that affects 1 in 20 people with metastatic breast cancer.
BCLM occurs when breast cancer cells spread to the leptomeninges, tissues lining the brain and spinal cord. This condition has been challenging to study due to its rare occurrence and limited accessibility for biopsies.
Innovative Approach to Study BCLM
Researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research, London, took an innovative approach to study BCLM. They used liquid biopsies to collect circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) from blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with BCLM.
This ctDNA analysis allowed them to compare genetic material from leptomeningeal metastases with primary breast tumors and other metastatic sites.
The study revealed that BCLM cells acquire genetic features associated with lobular breast cancer. Additionally, BCLM cells showed early divergence from primary breast tumors, suggesting that the disease evolves within the leptomeningeal site to enhance its survival.
The researchers also created 3D culture models of BCLM using disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) to gain further insights into the disease.
Future Research and Implications
The findings provide a foundation for further research into BCLM genetics and potential treatments. Current therapies for BCLM are invasive and have limited effectiveness.
The researchers aim to identify novel drug treatments that can penetrate the blood-brain and blood-CSF barriers, making them less invasive and more effective.
This study advances our understanding of breast cancer metastasis to the brain and spinal cord, offering hope for better treatments and outcomes for patients with this challenging condition.
The researchers’ innovative approach and patient-derived models will also benefit future research in this area.
If you care about cancer, please read studies about A common blood thinner can help fight cancer and findings of Heavy alcohol drinking is common in cancer patients.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about the cause of weight gain after smoking cessation, and results showing smoking may cause white scars on the brain.
The research findings can be found in Nature Communications.
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