So, the underlying process of metastasis - when cancer cells spread to other sites of the body - is quite understood, yet there are still many things to learn about why it happens in the first place. This is an example of the question Prof. Isaac Witz and his research team focused on for their research on metastatic melanoma cells at Tel Aviv University.
Furthermore, what attracts these particular cells to the brain? The findings of Prof. Witz's research suggest that these cells create receptors for two chemokines found in brain tissue. The receptors may be a "homing device" that attract the cancer cells to the brain.
Prof. Witz says that these findings could open new doors for cancer therapies. Specifically, medications could be created to suppress the molecules of the receptors, and ultimately interfere with the metastatic migration to the brain.
There is also the duplication of nature that adds to the equation; scientists are able to compare metastatic to non-metastatic cancer cells in mice. Since these two types of cancer cells contain identical genetic backgrounds, scientists can possibly determine which genes are responsible for metastasis in metastatic cells.
References
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120919125602.htm
Anat Klein, Orit Sagi-Assif, Sivan Izraely, Tsipi Meshel, Metsada Pasmanik-Chor, Clara Nahmias, Pierre-Olivier Couraud, Neta Erez, Dave S.B. Hoon, Isaac P. Witz. The metastatic microenvironment: Brain-derived soluble factors alter the malignant phenotype of cutaneous and brain-metastasizing melanoma cells. International Journal of Cancer, 2012; DOI: 10.1002/ijc.27552
