Invasion and metastasis in cancer: molecular insights and therapeutic targets

Yongxing Li; Fengshuo Liu; Qingjin Cai; Lijun Deng; Qin Ouyang

doi:10.1038/s41392-025-02148-4

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Invasion and metastasis in cancer: molecular insights and therapeutic targets

Yongxing Li, Fengshuo Liu, Qingjin Cai, Lijun Deng, Qin Ouyang, Xiang H.-F. Zhang, Ji Zheng

Springer Nature (2025) • Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages 57-57

SynthesisNarrativeReviewPDF AvailableGrade Eligible⚠️ Moderate Risk Flags

Overall Assessment

Limited Methodological Quality

Assessment created by PaperScorers Medical AI v0.1.0 on Dec 22, 2025

D

43/100

Key Takeaways

•Metastasis remains driver of cancer mortality with organ tropism (bone, brain, liver, lung).
•Seed-and-soil and multiclonal seeding underpin organ-specific colonisation.
•Pre‑metastatic niche and immune–stromal crosstalk are central therapeutic targets.
•Therapies span targeted, immuno-, anti‑angiogenic, TME/ECM, and organ‑specific options.
•Emerging tech: nanomedicine, gene editing, vaccines, AI; evidence remains early-stage.

Conclusion

Comprehensive narrative overview; mechanistic depth and therapy catalogue are useful, but absence of systematic methods limits evidential strength for practice guidance.

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Quality Dimensions

Bias & Integrity

COI handling, outcome switching, selective reporting

C-55

Methods Rigour

Protocol clarity, sampling, controls

F25

External Validity

Generalisability, setting, population

B-70

Transparency & Reproducibility

Data/code/materials availability, preregistration

F20

Significance & Novelty

Contribution vs prior art; context if known

C+65

Statistical Validity

Models, assumptions, multiplicity, CI priority

F20

Integrity & Transparency

Integrity checks

P-hacking risk?

?

None suspected

Signs of selective hypothesis testing or analysis choices that could inflate false positive rates.

Outcome switching?

?

Review recommended

Evidence that primary outcomes were changed during or after the study, potentially distorting results.

Conflict of interest?

?

None suspected

Authors have financial or other relationships that could bias research findings.

Data integrity issues?

?

None suspected

Concerns about the accuracy, completeness, or authenticity of the reported data.

Open science signals

Research data

?

Not applicable

Raw data used in the analyses is publicly available or accessible upon request.

Analysis code

?

Not applicable

Code or scripts used to analyze the data are shared for reproducibility.

Study materials

?

Not applicable

Protocols, questionnaires, and other materials are publicly available.

Premise

Primary Research Question

What are the mechanisms of cancer invasion/metastasis, organ tropism, and therapeutic targets/strategies?

Hypothesis is Falsifiable

—Not specified

Narrative synthesis; no testable hypothesis.

PICO Framework

Population—Not specified

No single patient population; review scope is cross‑cancer.

Intervention—Not specified

Multiple therapies discussed; not a single intervention study.

Comparison—Not specified

No formal comparators or meta-analysis.

Outcome—Not specified

No predefined outcomes; narrative discussion only.

Literature Positioning

Literature Review Balanced

Well covered

Broad, multi-organ coverage with extensive referencing (>700 refs).

Evidence: References p.26–37

Research Gap Clearly Stated

Well covered

Dedicated sections on knowledge gaps and clinical trial obstacles.

Evidence: ‘CHALLENGES…’ p.24–25

Stated Contribution Clear

Well covered

Abstract/Intro state goals: mechanisms, organ tropism, and therapies.

Evidence: Abstract p.1; Introduction p.1–2

Study Provenance

Peer reviewed venueGrant funding disclosedNo conflicts declared5 affiliations listed

Authors & Affiliations

Army Medical University (Chongqing, China); Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, USA); others as listed on title page.

Funding Statement

Top Young and Middle-aged Medical Talent/Studio of Chongqing; Chongqing Science & Health Joint Fund (2023GDRC007); Army Medical University projects.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Peer Review

✓Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy is a peer‑reviewed Nature Portfolio journal.

Evidence: Journal header/venue; article format indicates peer review

Methodological Assessment

All design modules are marked as not applicable. Use the accordion below to review their details.

Modules without applicable checklist items (10)

These designs were fully marked as not applicable but remain available for reference.

Abstract

The progression of malignant tumors leads to the development of secondary tumors in various organs, including bones, the brain, liver, and lungs. This metastatic process severely impacts the prognosis of patients, significantly affecting their quality of life and survival rates. Research efforts have consistently focused on the intricate mechanisms underlying this process and the corresponding clinical management strategies. Consequently, a comprehensive understanding of the biological foundations of tumor metastasis, identification of pivotal signaling pathways, and systematic evaluation of existing and emerging therapeutic strategies are paramount to enhancing the overall diagnostic and treatment capabilities for metastatic tumors. However, current research is primarily focused on metastasis within specific cancer types, leaving significant gaps in our understanding of the complex metastatic cascade, organ-specific tropism mechanisms, and the development of targeted treatments. In this study, we examine the sequential processes of tumor metastasis, elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving organ-tropic metastasis, and systematically analyze therapeutic strategies for metastatic tumors, including those tailored to specific organ involvement. Subsequently, we synthesize the most recent advances in emerging therapeutic technologies for tumor metastasis and analyze the challenges and opportunities encountered in clinical research pertaining to bone metastasis. Our objective is to offer insights that can inform future research and clinical practice in this crucial field.

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Study Overview

Study Design

Narrative Review

Primary classification used to evaluate this research.

Population

Not applicable (narrative review across cancer types and organs).

Brief summary of who or what was studied.

Reviewer Notes

Narrative review; no systematic search/selection methods or quantitative synthesis reported.

Publication Details

DOI

10.1038/s41392-025-02148-4

Published

February 20, 2025

Citations

101 citations

FWCI

330.32

External Resources

DOI Link OpenAlex

Disclaimer: This assessment is generated by AI and should not be the sole basis for clinical or research decisions. Always review the original paper and consult with domain experts.

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