Circulating nucleic acids in plasma/serum and tumor progression: are apoptotic bodies involved? An experimental study in a rat cancer model.

The "genometastasis hypothesis" proposes that cell-free tumor nucleic acids might be able to transform host stem cells, and that this might be a pathway for the development of metastases. This theory is supported by previous experimental findings and is consistent with observations of other authors. It has been suggested that tumor DNA might be horizontally transferred by the uptake of apoptotic bodies and initiate the genetic changes that are necessary for tumor formation.