Experiments in a mouse mammary-tumour model that spontaneously metastasizes to the lungs show that metastatic colonization requires the presence of a small population of infiltrating cancer stem cells. These cells induce the expression of the extracellular protein periostin, which supports the growth of metastases in the resulting niche environment by enhancing Wnt signalling in the tumour cells. Blockade of periostin function prevents metastasis, suggesting that there may be therapeutic potential in targeting the metastatic niche at an early stage of metastasis, when the tumour cells are likely to be particularly dependent on niche signals.
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