Probes for cancer metastasis imaging and therapeutic targeting

Progression to metastases remains the overriding cause of cancer-associated mortality. Metastatic cancer is not amenable to surgery and its treatment is further complicated by the development of therapy resistance often observed at advanced cancer stages. Early detection of metastases is therefore critical but has been limited by the lack of probes that can effectively localize them. Similar challenges persist with therapeutics specifically targeting metastasized cancer cells. Thus, agents that specifically target disseminating tumor cells at an early stage could produce new theranostic applications and be transformative for the survival of patients with advanced cancers. Recent studies have described new approaches for early detection and targeted eradication of metastatic cancer. Here we summarize the results from preclinical validation of the experimental probes reported to date.