Table 2.

Hypothesized cancer cell extraembryonic (amniotic and vitelline) and embryonic (gastrulation) phenotypes.

(i) Amniotic-like phenotype

(a) Abnormal ion transport

(b) Extracellular matrix permeability

(c) Diffusion

(d) Increased interstitial fluid (cytokines-substrates)

(e) Interstitial-lymphatic axis

(f) Circulatory switch

(g) Stem cancer cell

(ii) Vitelline-like phenotype

(a) Fat transport

(1) Lipoproteins

(2) Cholesterol

(b) Hematopoiesis

(1) Bone marrow control

(2) Platelets

(3) Neutrophils

(4) Mast cells

(5) Tumor-associated macrophages

(6) Lymphocytes

(7) Dendritic cells

(c) Lymphatic metastasis

(d) Immunotolerance

(e) Angiogenic switch

(f) Cachexia

(1) Using the host as vitellum

(iii) Gastrulation–like phenotype

(a) Tumoral stroma

(1) Epithelial-mesenchymal transition

(2) Granulation tissue

(b) Tumoral parenchyma

(1) Mesenchymal epithelial transition

(2) Tumor growth

(c) Tumoral organ

(1) Tumoral tissue heterogeneity