However, incorporation of MDA-MB-231 cells into the endothelium occurred more slowly, with a smaller slope of “spreading area vs. time”, and had a lower final cellular area compared to MDA-MB-231 cells spreading onto an endothelium-free fibronectin-coated substrate (Fig. 3D), indicating that the endothelium did not favor incorporation of the cancer cell, but rather limited overall spreading area. Here, FN1 is linked to cancer.