Why metastasis kills

This is a very difficult question to answer, since cancer can exert a multitude of effects on the body, and induces changes in metabolism, blood flow and brain function. With this systemic concept in mind, we decided to use a cancer model that allows us to study the entire organism at the same time. Since this is impossible to do in humans, we chose to use a transparent fish called the zebrafish to do this study.

Since many of the principles of cancer growth are the same in both animals and humans, what we find in the zebrafish has surprisingly direct relevance to patients with cancer.

Our studies so far have pointed us in a very new direction for the lab. What we realized fairly quickly at the start of the project is that once a cancer cell metastasizes to a new place, it undergoes a dramatic change in its shape and appearance. This change in appearance is linked to a whole slew of changes in the genes that are expressed in the cancer cell. What we determined is that all of these changes in the cancer cell are dictated by the cells surrounding the cancer cell — it is the new environment that the cell finds itself in that determines what happens to it.

These surrounding cells - which are sometimes called stromal cells or microenvironmental cells — are not cancerous themselves, but act to support the cancer cell. These observations led us to ask what exactly these stromal cells were and what they were doing.

And what we found is that the tumor cells can specifically use these fat cells as their source of energy. They essentially divert the energy from your normal muscles or brain cells, and instead shift that energy into the tumor cells. We think this explains numerous aspects of why cancer is so deadly.

This allows the tumor cells not only to succeed in growing, but may also deprive the rest of the body of the energy it needs for daily activities. Over time, the cancer cells win out, and this is no longer compatible with life.

It is like a competition between the tumor cells and the rest of the body, and the tumor cells win by taking over their surrounding stromal cells. One question that we are now addressing is whether we can block this interaction between the tumor cells and the fat cells.

But cancer-related digestive issues are most likely to become life-threatening due to malnourishment or dehydration. Edelman, M. This means that even if someone is receiving nutrients via IV, they can still die from malnourishment. Malnourishment can be accompanied by difficulty maintaining fluid levels.

Subbiah says. This can lead to dehydration. Whether cancer originates in the lungs or affects these organs after becoming metastatic, this disease can kill off healthy lung tissue or block portions of it, making it far too hard to breathe, the NCI says.

Someone with advanced cancer may receive oxygen in a facility like a hospital. So, over time, a person with advanced cancer can have too much difficulty maintaining the oxygen levels that their body needs to survive, and their organs can begin to fail as a result, Dr. Cancer can also create infections that cause the lungs to fill with fluid, which can then prevent a person from getting in enough oxygen over time, Dr. Brain bleeding or injury that harms the function of another critical body part, like the lungs, can also kill someone, the NCI says.

Cancer can spread to the bone marrow, the matter in the center of large bones that makes new blood cells. If this happens, it can lead to a host of life-threatening issues. A lack of sufficient red blood cells can bring about anemia not having enough oxygen in your blood , which can kill someone if severe enough.

Cancer in your bone marrow can make your levels of white blood cells designed to help fight infection drop to precipitously low levels, the NCI says. Budget Proposal. Stories of Cancer Research. Driving Discovery. Highlighted Scientific Opportunities. Research Grants.

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