TAMs are also crucial players in the process of metastasis. They contribute to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cells, a critical step for metastatic spread. TAMs secrete matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that degrade the extracellular matrix, facilitating cancer cell invasion and dissemination. Furthermore, TAMs can create pre-metastatic niches in distant organs by secreting factors that prepare the local environment for incoming cancer cells.
