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Road map to metastasis

When do cancer cells acquire metastatic identity? Recent reports have indicated that the propensity to metastasize might be hardwired early during tumor development. Now it seems that breast cancer cells might acquire a gene signature early in tumorigenesis that predicts the site of metastasis.

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Figure 1: Models of metastatic capability of the primary tumor.

Kimberly Homer

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Van't Veer, L., Weigelt, B. Road map to metastasis. Nat Med 9, 999–1000 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0803-999b

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