Tumor-derived aminopeptidase N promotes early stages of brain metastatic colonization

Tumor-derived aminopeptidase N promotes early stages of brain metastatic colonization

In brief

In this study, Bejarano et al. show that the multifunctional enzyme CD13 is upregulated during brain metastasis and promotes cancer cell seeding across the blood-brain barrier. Loss of CD13 impairs brain colonization and prolongs survival in mice, highlighting CD13 as a potential therapeutic target in brain metastasis.

Highlights

. Cancer cells upregulate CD13 during brain metastasis

. Silencing CD13 delays metastatic progression and extends survival

. CD13 plays a role in cancer cell seeding in the brain

. Targeting CD13 offers a potential strategy against brain metastasis