Breast Cancer-derived PDGFB Opens the CNS Vascular Niche to Brain and Spinal Metastasis
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A preprint posted to bioRxiv on 16 October 2026 reports that PDGFB, a growth factor produced by breast cancer cells, remodels the vasculature of the central nervous system in ways that favour metastasis to the brain, spinal cord and leptomeninges. In triple-negative breast cancer models, PDGFB promoted sprouting of human brain microvascular endothelial cells, increased permeability in 3D blood-brain barrier models and disrupted tight junction proteins, with permeability changes appearing in both PDGFR-beta-positive and PDGFR-beta-negative endothelial systems. In vivo, PDGFB increased CNS metastatic burden and drove colonization of the spinal cord and leptomeninges. Analysis of patient transcriptomic datasets showed enrichment of angiogenesis pathways in PDGFB-high tumours from patients with CNS metastases. The work is a preprint and has not yet undergone peer review or journal publication.
Written by a model from the reports · updated 2 hours ago
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- biorxiv.orgBreast Cancer-derived PDGFB Remodels the CNS Vascular Niche to Promote Brain, Spinal and Leptomeningeal Metastasis
Breast cancer-derived PDGFB remodels the CNS vascular niche to promote metastasis to the brain, spinal cord and leptomeninges. In triple-negative breast cancer models, PDGFB enhanced human brain microvascular endothelial cell sprouting, increased permeability in 3D blood-brain barrier models and disrupted tight junction proteins, with permeability changes seen in both PDGFR-beta-positive and PDGFR-beta-negative endothelial systems. In vivo, PDGFB raised CNS metastatic burden and drove spinal and leptomeningeal colonization, and patient transcriptomic datasets showed angiogenesis pathway enrichment in PDGFB-high tumors from patients with CNS metastases.
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