Metastatic Potential

The metastatic potential does not rely on the accumulation of new driver mutations by the cancer cells. Metastasis inception depends on the metabolic reprogramming of the metastasis-initiating cells (MICs), thus making it the limiting factor in the process of colonization of distant locations with different tissue environments, oxygen, and nutrient availabilities. Recent studies showed that the most significant correlation with cancer progression and prognosis in metastatic tumors is an increased copy number alterations and expression profile for the genes responsible for fatty acid uptake and metabolism, thus showing distinctive lipid metabolism starting with lipid uptake, fatty acid beta-oxidation, lipid biosynthesis, and storage. Fatty acid translocase/CD36 is the most prominent lipid transporter expressed by MICs. Its expression has been reported to be correlated with an increased metastatic potential and a poor prognosis in some tumors. Targeting various sides of the lipid metabolism appears to be a promising therapeutic in preventing metastatic dissemination and tumor growth.