Genetic Fate Mapping of Transient Cell Fate Reveals N-Cadherin Activity and Function in Tumor Metastasis

Genetic lineage tracing unravels cell fate and plasticity in development, tissue homeostasis, and diseases. However, it remains technically challenging to trace temporary or transient cell fate, such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tumor metastasis. Here, we generated a genetic fate-mapping system for temporally seamless tracing of transient cell fate. Highlighting its immediate application, we used it to study EMT gene activity from the local primary tumor to a distant metastatic site in vivo. In a spontaneous breast-to-lung metastasis model, we found that primary tumor cells activated vimentin and N-cadherin in situ, but only N-cadherin was activated and functionally required during metastasis. Tumor cells that have ever expressed N-cadherin constituted the majority of metastases in lungs, and functional deletion of N-cad significantly reduced metastasis. The seamless genetic recording system described here provides an alternative way for understanding transient cell fate and plasticity in biological processes. [Display omitted] •Generation of a genetic system for recording transient cell fate in vivo•Genetic tracing of EMT gene activity during breast-to-lung tumor metastasis•Vimentin is not involved during mammary tumor metastasis in MMTV-PyMT model•N-cadherin is activated and functionally required during tumor metastasis Li, Lv et al. establish a genetic system to seamlessly record transient cell fate in vivo. Using this approach, they study epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) gene activity from the local primary tumor to a distant metastatic site showing that N-cadherin but not vimentin is activated and functionally required during breast-to-lung tumor metastasis.