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Review
. 2020 Dec;235(12):8983-8995.
doi: 10.1002/jcp.29828. Epub 2020 Jun 22.

What makes leader cells arise: Intrinsic properties and support from neighboring cells

Bing-Jun Chen  1 , Jia-Shun Wu  1 , Ya-Jie Tang  2 , Ya-Ling Tang  3 , Xin-Hua Liang  1
Affiliations
Review

What makes leader cells arise: Intrinsic properties and support from neighboring cells

Bing-Jun Chen et al. J Cell Physiol. 2020 Dec.

Abstract

Cancer cells collectively invading as a cohesive and polarized group is termed collective invasion, which is a fundamental property of many types of cancers. In this multicellular unit, cancer cells are heterogeneous, consisting of two morphologically and functionally distinct subpopulations, leader cells and follower cells. Leader cells at the invasive front are responsible for exploring the microenvironment, paving the way, and transmitting information to follower cells. Here, in this review, we will describe the important role of leader cells in collective invasion and the emerging underlying mechanisms of leader cell formation including intrinsic properties and the support from neighboring cells. It will help us to elucidate the essence of collective invasion and provide new anticancer therapeutic clues.

Keywords: EMT; cancer-associated fibroblasts; collective invasion; leader cell; microenvironment.

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