Fellow travellers: emergent properties of collective cell migration

Cells can migrate individually or collectively. Collective movement is common during normal development and is also a characteristic of some cancers. This review discusses recent insights into features that are unique to collective cell migration, as well as properties that emerge from these features. The first feature is that cells of the collective affect each other through adhesion, force-dependent and signalling interactions. The second feature is that cells of the collective differ from one another: leaders from followers, tip from stalk and front from back. These are dynamic differences that are important for directional movement. Last, an unexpected property is discussed: epithelial cells can rotate persistently in constrained spaces.