Distinct routes to metastasis: plasticity-dependent and plasticity-independent pathways.

摘要: The cascade that culminates in macrometastases is thought to be mediated by phenotypic plasticity, including epithelial-mesenchymal and mesenchymal-epithelial transitions (EMT MET). Although there substantial support for the role of EMT driving cancer cell invasion dissemination, much less known about importance MET later steps metastatic colonization. We created novel reporters, which integrate transcriptional post-transcriptional regulation, test whether required metastasis multiple vivo models. In a model carcinosarcoma, occurred via an MET-dependent pathway; however, two prostate carcinoma models, colonization was independent. Our results provide evidence both MET-independent pathways.