A study published in Nature (2009) identifies genes involved in breast cancer metastasis to the brain. Researchers found that breast cancer cells use specific mechanisms to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and colonize the brain. These mechanisms include the cyclooxygenase COX2, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligand HBEGF, and the α2,6-sialyltransferase ST6GALNAC5. While COX2 and HBEGF are known to promote lung metastasis, ST6GALNAC5 is specifically involved in brain metastasis. ST6GALNAC5 enhances the adhesion of breast cancer cells to brain endothelial cells and their passage through the BBB. The study also identified a set of genes associated with brain metastasis, including COX2, collagenase-1 (MMP1), angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4), latent TGF-β-binding protein (LTBP1), fascin-1 (FSCN1), and the metastasis suppressor RARRES3. Additionally, EGFR ligands such as HBEGF and epiregulin (EREG) were found to be involved in brain metastasis. The study used in vivo and in vitro models to demonstrate that the expression of these genes is crucial for the metastatic process. The findings highlight the role of cell-surface glycosylation in organ-specific metastatic interactions and suggest that targeting these genes could be a potential therapeutic strategy for brain metastasis. The study also emphasizes the importance of understanding the unique barriers and microenvironments of different organs in metastasis.A study published in Nature (2009) identifies genes involved in breast cancer metastasis to the brain. Researchers found that breast cancer cells use specific mechanisms to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and colonize the brain. These mechanisms include the cyclooxygenase COX2, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligand HBEGF, and the α2,6-sialyltransferase ST6GALNAC5. While COX2 and HBEGF are known to promote lung metastasis, ST6GALNAC5 is specifically involved in brain metastasis. ST6GALNAC5 enhances the adhesion of breast cancer cells to brain endothelial cells and their passage through the BBB. The study also identified a set of genes associated with brain metastasis, including COX2, collagenase-1 (MMP1), angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4), latent TGF-β-binding protein (LTBP1), fascin-1 (FSCN1), and the metastasis suppressor RARRES3. Additionally, EGFR ligands such as HBEGF and epiregulin (EREG) were found to be involved in brain metastasis. The study used in vivo and in vitro models to demonstrate that the expression of these genes is crucial for the metastatic process. The findings highlight the role of cell-surface glycosylation in organ-specific metastatic interactions and suggest that targeting these genes could be a potential therapeutic strategy for brain metastasis. The study also emphasizes the importance of understanding the unique barriers and microenvironments of different organs in metastasis.