Analysis of the studies discussed in this review shows that some genes (TP53, EGFR and PIK3CA) can be common for various cancers in terms of the effect of their mutations on tumour cell migration and invasion, whereas other genes are strongly specific for certain malignant tumours: for example, RAC1 and ADAMTS18 in melanoma, and APC in colorectal cancer (see Table 1). This evidence concerns the gene ADAMTS18 and cancer.