TY - JOUR AU - McFarland, Braden C. AU - Benveniste, Etty N. PY - 2019 TI - Reactive astrocytes foster brain metastases via STAT3 signaling JF - Annals of Translational Medicine; Vol 7, Supplement 3 (July 30, 2019): Annals of Translational Medicine Y2 - 2019 KW - N2 - Brain metastasis remains a grim and complicating factor in many cancers, regardless of the primary tumor origin (1). Moreover, the unique brain microenvironment inadvertently aides in brain metastasis growth and progression (2). In a recently published paper by Priego et al . (3), it was uncovered that there is a subpopulation of reactive astrocytes (RA) that surround brain metastases and are driven by signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation. The metastatic tumor cells in the brain secrete various factors that trigger astrocytes to become reactive and display enhanced STAT3 activation. These STAT3+ RA produce cytokines and other factors that inhibit an appropriate anti-tumor immune response. Both innate and adaptive immune functions are compromised due to the activities of these STAT3+ RA. Targeting the STAT3 signaling pathway in the microenvironment helps reduce pro-tumorigenic signaling and decreases brain metastasis burden. UR - https://atm.amegroups.org/article/view/25245