The results of the present study suggest a novel mechanism by which HMGA1 controls the progression of tumour cells to an aggressive and invasive phenotype: aberrant expression of HMGA1 in tumour cells promotes metastasis by inducing EMT- and stemness-related processes, which in turn may enhance the ability of breast cancer cells to migrate and grow at secondary sites. The gene discussed is HMGA1; the disease is breast carcinoma.