Cytogenetic signatures favoring metastatic organotropism in colorectal cancer

Mariola Monika Golas (), Bastian Gunawan, Angelika Gutenberg, Bernhard C. Danner, Jan S. Gerdes, Christine Stadelmann, Laszlo Füzesi, Torsten Liersch and Bjoern Sander ()
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Mariola Monika Golas: University of Augsburg
Bastian Gunawan: University Medical Center Göttingen
Angelika Gutenberg: Asklepios Hospital Harburg
Bernhard C. Danner: University Medical Center Göttingen
Jan S. Gerdes: University Medical Center Göttingen
Christine Stadelmann: University Medical Center Göttingen
Laszlo Füzesi: University Medical Center Göttingen
Torsten Liersch: University Medical Center Göttingen
Bjoern Sander: Hannover Medical School

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Abstract Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) exhibits metastatic organotropism, primarily targeting liver, lung, and rarely the brain. Here, we study chromosomal imbalances (CIs) in cohorts of primary CRCs and metastases. Brain metastases show the highest burden of CIs, including aneuploidies and focal CIs, with enrichment of +12p encoding KRAS. Compared to liver and lung metastases, brain metastases present with increased co-occurrence of KRAS mutation and amplification. CRCs with concurrent KRAS mutation and amplification display significant metabolic reprogramming with upregulation of glycolysis, alongside upregulation of cell cycle pathways, including copy number gains of MDM2 and CDK4. Evolutionary modeling suggests early acquisition of many organotropic CIs enriched in both liver and brain metastases, while brain-enriched CIs preferentially emerge later. Collectively, this study supports a model where cytogenetic events in CRCs favor site-specific metastatic colonization. These site-enriched CI patterns may serve as biomarkers for metastatic potential in precision oncology.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58413-1

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