When a tumor-initiating cell experiences isolation stress, it begins expressing LPAR4. This leads to the production of a new extracellular matrix full of fibronectin (FN1), which keeps the cell safe and recruits other cells into the niche to begin tumor formation.

The study was led by David Cheresh, PhD, Distinguished Professor and vice chair of the Department of Pathology at UC San Diego School of Medicine and a member of the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center.