Metabolic matching shapes organ-specific metastasis.

Abstract

Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality, yet the mechanisms driving organ-specific colonization remain incompletely understood. Increasing evidence suggests that metastatic success depends on a "metabolic match" between disseminated tumor cells and the microenvironment of the target organ. In this mini-review, we discuss how intrinsic metabolic programs inherited from the primary tumor interact with extrinsic factors such as nutrient availability, redox balance, extracellular matrix remodeling, and organ-resident cells to shape metastatic organotropism. We propose that the interplay between cancer cell metabolic plasticity and tissue-specific metabolic landscapes critically determines metastatic fitness and may uncover new therapeutic vulnerabilities.