Reported in this month's edition of The Journal of Cell Biology, there is evidence that malignant epithelial cells become motile within their own environment, similar to that occurring in the development of organs during embyrogenesis.
Although the cancer cells are not yet invasive (they do not have the ability to pass through basement membranes), motile cells may indicate the development of a higher grade, or aggressive form of cancer that is developing.
These type of motile cell may require fewer mutations to become fully invasive. Further work needs to be done to see if we can identify what cell lines are developing this way, and devise a test that will differentiate the more aggressive form of DCIS which needs a more aggressive surgical treatment from the outset.
