Natural products that selectively target organotropic metastatic breast cancer

Over 90% of cancer mortality is caused by systemic metastases. The triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 (MDA231) is a widely used model for metastasis and anticancer drug discovery research. Breast cancers frequently metastasize to lungs, bones, and brain. To understand the molecular basis for metastatic tissue tropism, Massagué and colleagues employed MDA231 cells as a model system to isolate organotropic subclones and identified signature gene expression profiles associated with target organ-specific metastasis. Potentially druggable molecular targets may be associated with these complex site-specific organotropic metastatic processes that differ in terms of evolution, growth, treatment response, morbidity, and mortality. Extracts form marine organisms and plants used as herbal medicines were examined in a panel of MDA231 subclones (lung, bone, and brain metastatic) for their effects on cell proliferation/viability. Samples were analyzed for patterns of organotropic metastasis-selective antitumor selectivity. Marine organisms and certain plants produce natural products that show potential target organ-selective antimetastatic activity.