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Subclonal cooperation rewrites metastasis

Nature Cell Biology volume 21, pages 797–798 (2019)Cite this article

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Different subclones cooperate to support tumour heterogeneity and growth, but the effect on metastasis is unclear. A new study now shows that, as non-cell-autonomous drivers, minor cancer cell subclones instigate growth at distant sites of otherwise non-metastatic cancer cells. This is mediated systemically by perturbation in the metastatic tissue.

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Fig. 1: Polyclonal tumours containing the IL11-expressing subclone gain metastatic potential.

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  1. The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK

    Luigi Ombrato & Ilaria Malanchi

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  1. Luigi Ombrato
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  2. Ilaria Malanchi
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Correspondence to Ilaria Malanchi.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Ombrato, L., Malanchi, I. Subclonal cooperation rewrites metastasis. Nat Cell Biol 21, 797–798 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-019-0353-y

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