Researchers identify shared genes driving cancer spread

Cancer metastasis-the spread of cancer to other organs-is the leading cause of death among cancer patients. Researchers have now uncovered a "genetic signature" of 177 genes shared across multiple cancer types that drives this deadly process.

Among the findings are two key genes:

• SP1, which accelerates metastasis.
• KLF5, which helps suppress it.

The discovery of these shared genetic drivers-applicable to cancers from the lungs to the liver-challenges the long-held belief that metastasis mechanisms vary greatly between cancer types.

This so-called "pan-cancer" perspective offers a powerful opportunity to develop treatments effective for many cancer patients, regardless of their specific diagnosis.

New hope for earlier diagnosis and treatment

One of the most promising aspects of the study is its ability to predict a patient's risk of metastasis. By analyzing the 177-gene signature in a tumor, the researchers could identify whether the cancer is likely to spread and intervene earlier.

"This could save lives, particularly for patients whose cancers are detected before they metastasize to critical organs. In these cases, new treatments-such as repurposed drugs identified in the study-could disrupt the metastasis process before it becomes life-threatening," Vijay Tiwari explains.

For example, the research highlights Vorinostat, an existing FDA-approved drug, as a potential therapy to block metastasis.

"Repurposing approved drugs could make these treatments available to patients much sooner than if entirely new medications were developed."

Ryan Lusby from Queens University Belfast is the study's first author and heemphasizes the potential impact:

"It is remarkable to uncover common principles of metastasis across different cancers and then use this information to identify biomarkers of metastasis and develop new drugs that can be applied to a wide range of cancers."

Why this matters to cancer patients

This discovery has far-reaching implications for cancer care:

Broader treatment options: Targeting shared genetic drivers could lead to therapies effective across multiple cancer types.Faster drug access: Repurposing existing medications could shorten the time it takes for new treatments to reach patients.

Personalized risk assessment: Using the gene signature, doctors could tailor treatments to a patient's specific risk of metastasis.

The findings also set the stage for a shift in how cancer is understood. Rather than focusing solely on the type of cancer, treatments may increasingly target shared genetic vulnerabilities, benefiting more patients than ever before.

Dr. Engin Demirdizen, a co-author of the study, highlights an intriguing finding:

-As metastasis progresses, tumour cells and the microenvironment engage in increasingly dynamic communication through WNT signaling, a process driven by the transcription factor SP1.

As Dr. Mohammed Inayatullah, a co-author of the study, notes:

"We are thrilled to showcase how genomics has empowered us to repurpose existing drugs for cancer therapy."

A breakthrough for families and society

For patients and their families, cancer metastasis often represents a turning point-a moment when the disease becomes far harder to treat and more devastating in its impact.

By understanding and targeting the genetic triggers behind metastasis, this research offers a lifeline: longer, healthier lives and a reduction in the emotional and financial burdens of advanced cancer.

Source:

University of Southern Denmark

Journal reference:

Lusby, R., et al. (2025). Pan-cancer drivers of metastasis. Molecular Cancer. doi.org/10.1186/s12943-024-02182-w.