CRISPR Model Unveils Prostate Cancer's Metastatic Routes

New mouse model developed by Weill Cornell Medicine researchers reveals how prostate cancer cells spread through the body.

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine used CRISPR technology to create a preclinical mouse model called EvoCaP to study prostate cancer metastasis.
The study, published in Cancer Discovery, tracks the movement of cancer cells using genetic barcoding and bioluminescence imaging.
Findings show that prostate cancer metastasis often begins with a small number of aggressive clones spreading to bones, liver, lungs, and lymph nodes.
The research highlights that once cancer cells metastasize to an organ, they typically remain there, with only a few cells causing further spread.
This model's metastatic patterns closely match those observed in humans, providing a valuable tool for developing new treatments.