Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions have developed a method that reveals the cellular makeup of tissues that support metastatic cancer growth, which is the primary cause of death for most patients with solid tumors. The technique, sortase A-based microenvironment niche tagging (SAMENT), is designed to selectively label cells encountered by cancer cells during m...
This study presents a methodologically innovative approach to mapping the cellular interactions that facilitate metastasis, particularly in bone tissue. The use of SAMENT to selectively label cells in contact with metastatic cancer cells is a notable advancement, as it provides a more precise way to study the tumor microenvironment. The finding that macrophages in bone metastases activate ERα, a protein traditionally associated with breast cancer, challenges conventional understanding and opens ...