Unveiling the Mechanism Behind Cancer's Spinal Metastasis

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have discovered that the vertebral bones in the spine are formed by a distinct type of stem cell that secretes a protein called MFGE8, which favors tumor metastases. This finding helps explain why solid tumors often spread to the spine and opens up new possibilities for orthopedic and cancer treatments. The researchers are now exploring ways to block MFGE8 to reduce the risk of spinal metastasis in cancer patients and studying how the unique properties of vertebral stem cells contribute to spinal disorders.