TBX1 and neoplasm: CAFs are even found in circulation, akin to circulating tumor cells (CTCs)-circulating CAFs (identified based on the expression of fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)), and were found in 88% of patients with metastatic breast cancer and in 23% of patients with nonmetastatic disease [9], suggesting a role in metastasis and formation of the pre-metastatic niche.