Multiple distinct metastatic cell states are induced by epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity

Epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) enables carcinoma cells to adopt phenotypes along a continuum between fully epithelial and fully mesenchymal states. In triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), EMP has been implicated as a driver of metastasis, but the functional roles of specific EMP-associated states remain poorly defined. Here, we combined single-cell RNA sequencing with functional assays in the a genetically engineered mouse model of basal-like TNBC to determine how EMP contributes to phenotypic heterogeneity and metastatic progression. We identified a previously uncharacterized population of highly plastic tumor cells that had lost mammary lineage identity yet retained core epithelial features, including E-cadherin and EpCAM expression. These high-plasticity EpCAM-high (HP-Ehi) cells lacked canonical mesenchymal markers such as Vimentin, yet exhibited elevated heritable intrinsic plasticity, enabling transitions toward more mesenchymal-like EpCAM-low (Elo) states. Strikingly, both HP-Ehi and Elo populations independently initiated robust lung metastases and maintained the EMP phenotypes of their cells of origin throughout colonization. Together, these findings demonstrate that EMP generates multiple distinct heritable transcriptional states with high metastatic potential.