The Amazing Power of Cancer Cells to Recapitulate Extraembryonic Functions: The Cuckoo's Tricks

Table 2

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

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(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

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(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

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(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

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