The relationship between genetic mutations and organ metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer

Xue, Haiying and Chen, Yuzhu and Qi, Fei and Chen, Kaixuan and Liu, Xiaolin and Zhang, Muxin and Gao, Ziyuan and Cai, Shanshan and Gao, Tianbo and Zhang, Tongmei (2026) The relationship between genetic mutations and organ metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer. Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology, 18. ISSN 1758-8359

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Abstract

Non-small cell lung cancer is among the most prevalent cancers worldwide, with its high metastatic potential driving poor prognosis and mortality. Advances in molecular testing and high-throughput sequencing have highlighted the roles of driver genes (EGFR, ALK, KRAS) and key non-driver genes (TP53, STK11, KEAP1) in NSCLC metastasis. These mutations influence tumor invasiveness, drug resistance, and organ-specific metastatic patterns—EGFR and ALK mutations favor brain metastasis, KRAS mutations are linked to bone, liver, and multiple lung metastases, while TP53, STK11, and KEAP1 mutations increase multi-organ metastatic risk. This review summarizes the associations between genetic mutations and metastatic sites, explores underlying molecular mechanisms, and discusses mutation-based risk prediction and personalized therapeutic strategies. With multi-omics integration and further clinical research, genetic profiling may become a key tool for guiding metastasis prevention, early intervention, and treatment optimization in NSCLC.