Propagated circulating tumor cells uncover the role of NF-kB and COP1 in metastasis

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), a population of cancer cells that represents the seeds of metastatic nodules, are a promising model system for studying metastasis. In this study, we perform NGS on cultured CTCs and corresponding CTC-derived xenografts for four different unique patients. Using RNA-sequencing and DNA-sequencing, we establish a prospective role for NF-kB signaling and COP1 muations in driving successful cancer metastasis. Overall design: Samples were drawn from healthy donors and patient-specific whole blood (WB), cultured CTCs (CTCs), and CTC-derived xenograft primary tumors (CDX tumors) and corresponding tissues with macrometastatic nodules.