Fig. 2

AST factors as master regulators of metastatic dissemination in vivo. The expression of AST factors is dynamically modulated during cancer dissemination. (i) Low levels of AST factors are found in primary solid tumors (such as breast cancer and melanoma), where anchorage-independent survival is generally inhibited; (ii) a raise in AST factors expression is associated to cancer cell detachment from primary masses thereby giving rise to circulating tumor cells (CTCs); (iii) The expression of AST is dramatically reduced at metastatic lesions to allow the colonization of distant organs (such as brain and lungs). Figure is created in “BioRender.com”