Breaking boundaries: role of the brain barriers in metastatic process
Abstract Brain metastases (BMs) are the most common intracranial tumors in adults and occur 3–10 times more frequently than primary brain tumors. Despite intensive multimodal therapies, including resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, BMs are associated with poor prognosis and remain challenging...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Fluids and Barriers of the CNS |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12987-025-00618-z |
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| author | Nasim Izadi Peter Solár Klaudia Hašanová Alemeh Zamani Maryam Shahidian Akbar Klára Mrázová Martin Bartošík Tomáš Kazda Roman Hrstka Marek Joukal |
| author_facet | Nasim Izadi Peter Solár Klaudia Hašanová Alemeh Zamani Maryam Shahidian Akbar Klára Mrázová Martin Bartošík Tomáš Kazda Roman Hrstka Marek Joukal |
| author_sort | Nasim Izadi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Brain metastases (BMs) are the most common intracranial tumors in adults and occur 3–10 times more frequently than primary brain tumors. Despite intensive multimodal therapies, including resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, BMs are associated with poor prognosis and remain challenging to treat. BMs predominantly originate from primary lung (20–56%), breast (5–20%), and melanoma (7–16%) tumors, although they can arise from other cancer types less frequently. The metastatic cascade is a multistep process involving local invasion, intravasation into the bloodstream or lymphatic system, extravasation into normal tissue, and colonization of the distal site. After reaching the brain, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) breach the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The selective permeability of the BBB poses a significant challenge for therapeutic compounds, limiting the treatment efficacy of BMs. Understanding the mechanisms of tumor cell interactions with the BBB is crucial for the development of effective treatments. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the brain barriers, including the BBB, blood-spinal cord barrier, blood-meningeal barrier, blood-arachnoid barrier, and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. It explores the molecular and cellular components of these barriers and their roles in brain metastasis, highlighting the importance of this knowledge for identifying druggable targets to prevent or limit BM formation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c64d9a88844e46b7ad1a29bd20351915 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-8118 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fluids and Barriers of the CNS |
| spelling | doaj-art-c64d9a88844e46b7ad1a29bd203519152025-01-12T12:35:58ZengBMCFluids and Barriers of the CNS2045-81182025-01-0122113210.1186/s12987-025-00618-zBreaking boundaries: role of the brain barriers in metastatic processNasim Izadi0Peter Solár1Klaudia Hašanová2Alemeh Zamani3Maryam Shahidian Akbar4Klára Mrázová5Martin Bartošík6Tomáš Kazda7Roman Hrstka8Marek Joukal9Research Centre for Applied Molecular Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer InstituteDepartment of Anatomy, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk UniversityDepartment of Anatomy, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk UniversityDepartment of Anatomy, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk UniversityResearch Centre for Applied Molecular Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer InstituteResearch Centre for Applied Molecular Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer InstituteResearch Centre for Applied Molecular Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer InstituteResearch Centre for Applied Molecular Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer InstituteResearch Centre for Applied Molecular Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer InstituteDepartment of Anatomy, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk UniversityAbstract Brain metastases (BMs) are the most common intracranial tumors in adults and occur 3–10 times more frequently than primary brain tumors. Despite intensive multimodal therapies, including resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, BMs are associated with poor prognosis and remain challenging to treat. BMs predominantly originate from primary lung (20–56%), breast (5–20%), and melanoma (7–16%) tumors, although they can arise from other cancer types less frequently. The metastatic cascade is a multistep process involving local invasion, intravasation into the bloodstream or lymphatic system, extravasation into normal tissue, and colonization of the distal site. After reaching the brain, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) breach the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The selective permeability of the BBB poses a significant challenge for therapeutic compounds, limiting the treatment efficacy of BMs. Understanding the mechanisms of tumor cell interactions with the BBB is crucial for the development of effective treatments. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the brain barriers, including the BBB, blood-spinal cord barrier, blood-meningeal barrier, blood-arachnoid barrier, and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. It explores the molecular and cellular components of these barriers and their roles in brain metastasis, highlighting the importance of this knowledge for identifying druggable targets to prevent or limit BM formation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12987-025-00618-zBrain MetastasisBlood–brain barrierBlood-spinal cord barrierBlood-cerebrospinal fluid barrierCancer |
| spellingShingle | Nasim Izadi Peter Solár Klaudia Hašanová Alemeh Zamani Maryam Shahidian Akbar Klára Mrázová Martin Bartošík Tomáš Kazda Roman Hrstka Marek Joukal Breaking boundaries: role of the brain barriers in metastatic process Fluids and Barriers of the CNS Brain Metastasis Blood–brain barrier Blood-spinal cord barrier Blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier Cancer |
| title | Breaking boundaries: role of the brain barriers in metastatic process |
| title_full | Breaking boundaries: role of the brain barriers in metastatic process |
| title_fullStr | Breaking boundaries: role of the brain barriers in metastatic process |
| title_full_unstemmed | Breaking boundaries: role of the brain barriers in metastatic process |
| title_short | Breaking boundaries: role of the brain barriers in metastatic process |
| title_sort | breaking boundaries role of the brain barriers in metastatic process |
| topic | Brain Metastasis Blood–brain barrier Blood-spinal cord barrier Blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier Cancer |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12987-025-00618-z |
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