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. 2020 May 26;11(21):1988–2001. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.27608

Figure 3. Metastasis scheme indicating the place of non-CSC to CSC plasticity in the metastatic cascade.

Figure 3

The tumor acquires the ability to metastasize due to ectopic expression of stemness genes, which is primarily due to the amplification of their loci. As a result of ectopic expression of stemness genes, the development of non-CSC to CSC plasticity and the formation of cancer stem cells can occur. Non-CSCs enter the secondary organ, become CSCs, and metastatic colony development ensues. In the absence of ectopic expression of stemness genes, the tumor will produce CTCs, but a lack of non-CSC to CSC plasticity and development of a stem phenotype in the internal organs will not allow such tumors to metastasize.