Tracking the genomic evolution of breast cancer metastasis

Abstract

Therapeutic choices for metastatic tumors are, in most cases, based upon the histological and molecular analysis of the corresponding primary tumor. Understanding whether and to what extent the genomic landscape of metastasis diff ers from the tumors from which they originated is critical yet largely unknown. A recent report tackled this key issue by comparing the genomic and transcriptional profi le of a metastatic lobular breast tumor with that of the primary tumor surgically removed 9 years earlier. The extent of the diff erences suggests a high degree of mutational heterogeneity between primary and metastatic lesions and indicates that signifi cant evolution occurs during breast cancer progression.© 2010 BioMed Central Ltd.