Metastatic cancer occurs when cancer cells spread beyond their original site, often referred to as stage 4 cancer. Despite spreading, the cancer retains its original classification—for instance, breast cancer that metastasizes to the lungs remains metastatic breast cancer, not lung cancer.

Metastases are responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths, as effective treatments remain elusive. Research indicates that most metastatic cancers are linked to the loss of dystroglycan, a vital protein that anchors normal cells within tissues. However, accumulated genetic alterations enable cancer cells to develop mechanisms that suppress dystroglycan expression, driving tumor progression and metastasis.