Flammer syndrome and potential formation of pre-metastatic niches : a multi-centred study on phenotyping, patient stratification, prediction and potential prevention of aggressive breast cancer and metastatic disease

Abstract

Detailed autopsy findings demonstrate that the absolute majority of people are carriers of hardly detectable micro and asymptomatic tumour lesions which, however, not necessarily may progress into clinically manifested disease. Further, in case of manifested oncologic diseases, less than 1 % of all disseminated and circulated tumour cells have a potential to form secondary and distanced tumours (metastatic diseases) – the phenomenon known as the “metastatic inefficiency” [1]. In this context, the key question puzzling modern predictive preventive and personalised medicine is how to discriminate between those carriers who are predisposed to a disease manifestation / progression and “silent” carriers.