41. Two important features which aid the development of a tumor and its metastasis are epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis. A student tested four cell lines to determine their invasiveness and proliferation capability by checking the expression of VEGF-A, TWIST and Cyclin D1. Which one of the following figures is most likely to exhibit the characteristics of a highly metastatic cancer cell?

A highly metastatic cancer cell would most likely exhibit:

• High expression of VEGF-A (key factor for angiogenesis, promoting blood vessel formation, enabling tumor growth and metastasis).

• High expression of TWIST (a transcription factor that induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT, enhancing invasiveness and migration).

• High expression of Cyclin D1 (regulates cell cycle progression and promotes proliferation).

Together, elevated levels of these markers support aggressive tumor behavior with enhanced proliferation, invasion through EMT, and angiogenesis, all critical for metastasis.