A need for stratification of metastasis samples according to secondary site in gene expression studies

Abstract

Comparisons of gene expression profiles between primary tumors and metastasis have revealed genes that are implicated in metastasis formation. However, gene expression studies conducted on metastasis samples from the same primary site usually do not discriminate between different secondary sites. Although the change in the expression of number of genes is expected to be common to metastasis from the same primary but different secondary sites, herein the data that point to substantial differences are presented. Furthermore, the reciprocal communication between metastatic and host cells that is influencing these differences is outlined to emphasize the need for stratification of metastasis samples in gene expression studies.

Prognostic Significance of Amino Acid Metabolism-Related Genes in Prostate Cancer Retrieved by Machine Learning

“…The metabolic landscape in cancers is highly perturbed in comparison to that in healthy tissue and metabolic genes and molecules, therefore, hold potential to be exploited in a search for disease biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets. This is especially the case since, not only primary tumors, but also metastases from certain tissues (e.g., liver and some other sites [48,49]), acquire changes in metabolism-related gene expression profiles. Metabolic profiles in prostate cancer have been thoroughly studied and reviewed by Kelly et al [50] who analyzed the articles reporting metabolites in prostate tissue, blood, urine and prostatic secretions.…”