Cancer cells can spread from where they are first formed and travel through the blood system to create new tumors in other parts of the body. Referred to as metastasis, this process is a major cause of cancer-related death, as we do not have any effective therapies for most cancer types when they metastasize. This is because it is a very complex process, in which cancer cells acquire lots of new features that are not normally present in healthy adults. Interestingly, many of these features involve embryonic molecular regulators that have been reactivated. It’s as if cancer cells hijack and reprogram dormant embryonic programs. This talk will explore research that focuses on identifying and studying these programs, with the aim of improving treatment options for cancer patients in the future.