The epigenetic landscape of brain metastasis

Abstract

Brain metastasis represents a significant challenge in oncology, driven by complex molecular and epigenetic mechanisms that distinguish it from primary tumors. While recent research has focused on identifying genomic mutation drivers with potential clinical utility, these strategies have not pinpointed specific genetic mutations responsible for site-specific metastasis to the brain. It is now clear that successful brain colonization by metastatic cancer cells requires intricate interactions with the brain tumor ecosystem and the acquisition of specialized molecular traits that facilitate their adaptation to this highly selective environment. This is best exemplified by widespread transcriptional adaptation during brain metastasis, resulting in aberrant gene programs that promote extravasation, seeding, and colonization of the brain. Increasing evidence suggests that epigenetic mechanisms play a significant role in shaping these pro-brain metastasis traits. This review explores dysregulated chromatin patterns driven by chromatin remodeling, histone modifications, DNA/RNA methylation, and other epigenetic regulators that underpin brain metastatic seeding, initiation, and outgrowth. We provide novel insights into how these epigenetic modifications arise within both the brain metastatic tumor and the surrounding brain metastatic tumor ecosystem. Finally, we discuss how the inherent plasticity and reversibility of the epigenomic landscape in brain metastases may offer new therapeutic opportunities.