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Cancer migration

Unjamming tumour cell invasion through cGAS–STING

Locally confined epithelial malignancies undergo a phase transition from a solid-like to liquid-like state, a process called unjamming, where associated chronic intracellular strain causes nuclear envelope rupture, leading to the emergence of pro-metastatic traits due to cGAS–STING pathway activation.

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Fig. 1: Phase transition from solid- to fluid-like invokes a cytosolic DNA response.

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Correspondence to Matthew Deyell or Samuel F. Bakhoum.

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S.F.B. has patents related to targeting chromosomal instability and cGAS–STING signalling in cancer. He also owns equity in, receives compensation from, serves as a consultant to, and is on the Scientific Advisory Board and Board of Directors of, Volastra Therapeutics Inc. M.D. declares no competing interests.

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Deyell, M., Bakhoum, S.F. Unjamming tumour cell invasion through cGAS–STING. Nat. Mater. 22, 532–533 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-023-01542-z

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