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Nature 438, 750-751 (8 December 2005) | doi:10.1038/438750b; Published online 7 December 2005

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Cancer biology: Emissaries set up new sites

Patricia S. Steeg1

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The capacity of tumours to spread to other organs is one of their most dangerous attributes. A study of how cancer cells settle in new places shows that they send out envoys to prepare the ground for them.

During the process of metastasis, tumour cells move from the primary tumour to colonize another organ. But why do these mobile cells put down roots only in particular organs, or only at specific sites within an organ?

  1. Patricia S. Steeg is in the Women's Cancers Section, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
    Email: steegp@mail.nih.gov

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