Liver metastasis of breast cancer: Essential information
Breast cancer can spread to various parts of the body, and one of the most common organs it metastasizes to is the liver. This news article aims to provide a clear and concise understanding of the factors involved in breast cancer liver metastasis.
Approximately 30% of people who receive a diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer will go on to develop metastatic, or stage 4, breast cancer. When breast cancer spreads to another organ, such as the liver, the diagnosis remains breast cancer.
A study in 2019 found that factors such as age, menopausal status, number of lymph node metastases, and tumor size may place a person at higher risk of developing liver metastasis. However, research suggests that there may be something about a person's liver environment that predisposes their cancer to metastasize to that organ. The exact mechanics of how breast cancer spreads specifically to the liver are still not fully understood.
Breast cancer cells spread to the liver primarily through a complex process involving multiple biological mechanisms. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) enables cancer cells to lose their epithelial characteristics and gain mesenchymal properties, increasing their mobility and invasiveness. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) act as molecular sponges for microRNAs, changing the expression of transcription factors which indirectly promote EMT and liver metastasis.
The tumor microenvironment (TME) supports dissemination by remodeling the extracellular matrix and promoting angiogenesis under hypoxic conditions. Research also suggests that metabolic interactions influenced by gut microbiota and bile acid derivatives can suppress or facilitate breast cancer liver metastasis by impacting cancer cell proliferation and migration.
With treatment, a person may be able to live for several years, and the individual outlook can vary based on several factors. Systemic medications, such as immunotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted drugs, are the main treatment for metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Treatment for MBC usually focuses on slowing the growth of the tumor and improving a person's quality of life. There is no cure for MBC, but with successful treatment, someone with MBC that has spread to the liver may live for several more years.
If liver metastasis causes symptoms, they can include fever, lack of appetite, bloating, fatigue, discomfort or pain in the midsection, weight loss, jaundice, swelling in the legs. A doctor is more likely to find breast cancer that has spread to the liver on a liver function test.
People with MBC can discuss with a doctor the best treatments for them, considering factors such as symptoms present, size of the tumor, previous treatments, whether the cancer has spread to other organs, the person's general health, age or menopause status, and features of the cancer. In cases where a person decides to discontinue treatment, they should talk with a treatment team and their family about end-of-life care.
Earlier or more frequent screening for liver metastasis may help improve outlook as a doctor may find the tumor sooner. The liver is the third most common organ for breast cancer metastasis. Treatment for MBC may not be as aggressive as it is in the earlier stages of breast cancer.
In conclusion, the current research emphasizes a multifactorial mechanism involving genetic regulation by circRNAs, microenvironmental cues, EMT, and metabolic modulation in the spread of breast cancer to the liver. Further studies continue to investigate these complex interactions to identify new therapeutic targets and improve treatment outcomes for breast cancer patients with liver metastases.
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- The spread of breast cancer to the liver is a complex process influenced by various factors such as age, menopausal status, and tumor size.
- Despite advanced stages like metastatic breast cancer (MBC) having no cure, treatments can slow tumor growth and improve a patient's quality of life.
- Metastatic breast cancer can cause symptoms like fever, lack of appetite, bloating, and fatigue, with a doctor more likely to find liver metastasis on a liver function test.
- Earlier or more frequent screening for liver metastasis may help improve the outlook for breast cancer patients.
- The liver, along with the bones and lungs, is a common organ for breast cancer to metastasize.
- Academy Q (AQ) research suggests that the person's liver environment may play a role in predisposing their cancer to metastasize to the liver.
- A 2019 study found that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) are key factors in enabling breast cancer cells to spread to the liver.
- The tumor microenvironment (TME) supports cancer cell dissemination by remodeling the extracellular matrix and promoting angiogenesis under hypoxic conditions.
- Understanding the mechanisms of breast cancer liver metastasis is crucial for developing new therapeutic targets and improving treatment outcomes.
- Current science indicates that there are multiple biological mechanisms, such as EMT, circRNAs, and the TME, that contribute to the spread of breast cancer to the liver.
