Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026
10:37
Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
Published on: August 27, 2013
38.0K
Epithelial-mesenchymal transitions: twist in development and metastasis
1Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Cell
|August 6, 2004
Summary
Epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMT) are crucial for development and cancer. The transcription factor Twist promotes EMT, enabling breast cancer cells to metastasize.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Developmental biology
- Cancer research
Background:
- Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is essential for embryonic development.
- EMT is also a key process in cancer progression, leading to invasive malignancies.
- Transcription factors that repress E-cadherin expression are known inducers of EMT.
Discussion:
- A recent study identifies Twist as a novel inducer of EMT.
- Twist's role in EMT links this process to the metastatic potential of breast cancer cells.
- This finding highlights the importance of understanding EMT in cancer metastasis.
Key Insights:
- Twist acts as a transcription factor that can induce EMT.
- EMT, driven by factors like Twist, facilitates breast cancer cell circulation.
- This mechanism explains how cancer cells spread and form secondary tumors (metastases).
Outlook:
- Further research into Twist and EMT could reveal new therapeutic targets for breast cancer.
- Understanding EMT pathways may lead to strategies to prevent or treat cancer metastasis.
- Investigating the role of transcription factors in EMT is crucial for advancing cancer treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:09Cell Migration
16.6K
Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
16.6K
02:54Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway
8.6K
The gene encoding the main signaling molecules of the Wnt signaling pathways (the Wnt proteins) was discovered almost four decades ago by Nüsslein-Volhard and Wieschaus. They identified and originally named the gene "wingless" (wg) after a phenotype discovered during their landmark genetic screen in Drosophila for body pattern defects. At around the same time, another researcher named Harold Varmus found that a murine tumor virus activates the mammalian wg homolog, Int-1, which...
8.6K
02:30Metastasis
5.4K
Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
5.4K
01:41Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways
6.4K
Wnt is a zygotic effect gene that is expressed during very early embryonic development. It regulates various processes in animals starting from early development through the adult stage, such as organogenesis in the embryo and maintenance of neuronal and blood stem cells. Wnt proteins can induce a wide variety of intracellular pathways depending upon the specific abilities of different Wnt ligands to form a complex with shared and cognate receptors in the presence of different co-receptors. The...
6.4K
01:19Cell Migration
6.1K
Cell migration is a process by which the cells move from one location to another, playing an essential role in embryological development, repair and regeneration, immune response, and metastasis. Cells migrate in response to chemical or mechanical signals generated by specific organs or tissues. The overall mechanism includes three steps - polarization, protrusion, and release. Polarization involves the formation of a distinct cell front and rear, which determines the direction of movement.
6.1K
01:19Cadherins in Tissue Organization
3.5K
The cadherins are a superfamily of cell adhesion molecules comprising over 180 variants, with specific tissues expressing a particular combination of cadherin types. Cadherins generally exhibit homophilic binding; i.e., cadherins on one cell bind to cadherins of the same or closely related type on another cell. Thus, cells of the same type have a specific affinity to bind to each other and sort themselves into clusters to form tissues.
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
3.5K