Charakteristika und Klassifikation der oligometastasierten Erkrankung

The term oligometastasis describes a state between local tumor growth and extensive metastasis (spectrum theory). According to the seed-and-soil theory, the development of metastases depends on the interaction between tumor cells and their microenvironment. Only certain tumor cells (seed) can go through all phases of metastasis and survive and grow in specific microenvironments (soil). Oligometastasis is currently defined and diagnosed through imaging based on the number of metastases (usually three to five). Guckenberger et al. have developed a dynamic classification system that categorizes various stages of oligometastatic disease and aims to improve clinical decision-making and make study results more comparable. In the future, diagnostics and treatment decisions are to be optimized and refined through biomarkers and advanced imaging. The goal is to optimally stratify patients with oligometastatic disease for individual therapeutic concepts. Liquid biopsies and molecular diagnostics are gaining importance and are expected to increasingly complement imaging and clinical decision-making.