Molecular Mechanisms of Liver Metastasis: Connecting Biology, Biomarkers, and Outcomes

Abstract

In our Special Issue titled “Molecular Mechanisms of Liver Metastases,” we aimed to attract articles that connect metastasis mechanisms and biomarkers with clinical disease characteristics and patient outcomes. Starting with the review paper by the Ohio State group, the authors provide valuable insight into the complex, multi-step molecular mechanisms underpinning liver metastasis [1]. Moving from pathogenesis to the prognostic and predictive role of clinically actionable proxies of tumor biology, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) group reviews current evidence on the prognostic and predictive relevance of key alterations—including RAS, BRAF, mismatch repair (MMR) genes, TP53, and SMAD4—in surgically treated colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) [2]. For RAS and BRAF in particular—given the breadth of existing evidence—the authors emphasize the largest and/or the most recently published studies to provide the most robust and contemporary overview for readers.