Fig. 6

Commensal interaction between phenotypically sorted subpopulations hypothesized to be mediated by leader–follower behavior. A Schematic of hypothesized commensal interactions between MDA⁺ (green) and MDA⁻ (red) subpopulations in vivo where dissemination from the primary tumor by weakly migratory, highly metastatic MDA⁻ cells is enhanced by highly motile, weakly metastatic MDA⁺ cells in a leader–follower fashion resulting in more MDA⁻ cells arriving at metastatic sites and increased colonization compared to MDA⁻ cells alone. The proposed overall effect on metastatic fitness is depicted at the bottom of the schematic where MDA⁺ impart an early advantage during dissemination that is carried through to the final stage of metastasis, colonization, by MDA⁻ cells