The patterns by which primary tumors spread to metastatic sites remain poorly understood. Here, we define patterns of metastatic seeding in prostate cancer (PCa) using a novel injection-based mouse model - EvoCaP (Evolution in Cancer of the Prostate), featuring aggressive metastatic cancer to bone, liver, lungs, and lymph nodes. To define migration histories between primary and metastatic sites, we used our EvoTraceR pipeline to track distinct tumor clones containing recordable barcodes. We detected widespread intratumoral heterogeneity from the primary tumor in metastatic seeding, with few clonal populations (CPs) instigating most migration. Metastasis-to-metastasis seeding was uncommon, as most cells remained confined within the tissue. Migration patterns in our model were congruent with human PCa seeding topologies. Our findings support the view of metastatic PCa as a systemic disease driven by waves of aggressive clones expanding their niche, infrequently overcoming constraints that otherwise keep them confined in the primary or metastatic site.
Cancer discovery. 2024 Jul 05 [Epub ahead of print]
Ryan N Serio, Armin Scheben, Billy Lu, Domenic V Gargiulo, Lucrezia Patruno, Caroline L Buckholtz, Ryan J Chaffee, Megan C Jibilian, Steven G Persaud, Stephen J Staklinski, Rebecca Hassett, Lise M Brault, Daniele Ramazzotti, Christopher E Barbieri, Adam C Siepel, Dawid G Nowak
Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States., cold spring, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, United States., University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, United States., New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States.