title: Brain May Prime Metastatic Cell Growth.
abstract: Metastasizing tumor cells lose expression of the tumor suppressor PTEN at a much higher rate when they enter the brain compared to other organs, suggesting that the brain's unique microenvironment may prime metastatic cells for aggressive growth, a recent study reports. The findings may have implications for developing targeted therapies for brain metastases.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary*; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D009928:Organ Specificity; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000378:metabolism*; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D035683:MicroRNAs; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human