biostudies-literatureLorentzen ASwiss National Science FoundationEuropean Research Council887https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5830403biostudies-literatureUnknown9(1)Dynamic polarisation of tumour cells is essential for metastasis. While the role of polarisation during dedifferentiation and migration is well established, polarisation of metastasising tumour cells during phases of detachment has not been investigated. Here we identify and characterise a type of polarisation maintained by single cells in liquid phase termed single-cell (sc) polarity and investigate its role during metastasis. We demonstrate that sc polarity is an inherent feature of cells from different tumour entities that is observed in circulating tumour cells in patients. Functionally, we propose that the sc pole is directly involved in early attachment, thereby affecting adhesion, transmigration and metastasis. In vivo, the metastatic capacity of cell lines correlates with the extenNature communicationsSingle cell polarity in liquid phase facilitates tumour metastasis.PMC5830403152901310030261317337689Becker PFRingelhan MWolf MJGeist FSaini MMuller QSpaich SO'Connor TWeidele KRonchi PHeikenwalder MTrumpp ALange SSeubert BDamle-Vartak ABorsig LBianco GKlein CASaur DVartak NPolzer BProtzer UMihic-Probst DSprick MRUtikal JKosla JRoblek MHartmann DHuser NGroß OHaferkamp SSchuck KEsser KKlein CHapfelmeier ALorentzen AKuehne FfalseSingle cell polarity in liquid phase facilitates tumour metastasis.Dynamic polarisation of tumour cells is essential for metastasis. While the role of polarisation during dedifferentiation and migration is well established, polarisation of metastasising tumour cells during phases of detachment has not been investigated. Here we identify and characterise a type of polarisation maintained by single cells in liquid phase termed single-cell (sc) polarity and investigate its role during metastasis. We demonstrate that sc polarity is an inherent feature of cells from different tumour entities that is observed in circulating tumour cells in patients. Functionally, we propose that the sc pole is directly involved in early attachment, thereby affecting adhesion, transmigration and metastasis. In vivo, the metastatic capacity of cell lines correlates with the exten2018-01-01T00:00:00Z2018 Feb2025-04-19T00:10:48.782Z2019-03-26T23:05:41ZS-EPMC58304032949139710.1038/s41467-018-03139-6