Tissue factor (TF) expressed at the protein level includes two isoforms: The membrane‑bound full‑length TF (flTF) and the soluble alternatively spliced TF (asTF). flTF is the major thrombogenic form of TF, whereas asTF is more closely associated with tumor growth, angiogenesis, metastasis and cell growth.
We further demonstrate that fluidity can be regulated by cellular cholesterol flux, as the cholesterol efflux channel ABCA1 potentiated metastatic behaviors in vitro and in vivo The requirement for fluidity was further supported by the finding in breast cancer patients that ABCA1 was overexpressed in 41% of metastatic tumors, reducing time to metastasis by 9 years.