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Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
10:37

Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition

Published on: August 27, 2013

Twist induces an epithelial-mesenchymal transition to facilitate tumor metastasis

Florian Karreth1, David A Tuveson

  • 1Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, The Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.

Cancer Biology & Therapy
|January 11, 2005
PubMed

Insights

The transcription factor Twist plays a key role in cancer metastasis, the spread of tumors. Its suppression inhibits metastasis, while its overexpression triggers epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process crucial for tumor cell spread.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Tumor metastasis is the primary cause of cancer-related mortality.
  • The molecular mechanisms driving metastasis are not fully understood.
  • Key regulators of the metastatic process remain largely unidentified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the transcription factor Twist in tumor metastasis.
  • To determine if epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is essential for metastasis.

Main Methods:

  • Studied the effect of Twist suppression and overexpression on tumor cell metastatic potential.
  • Analyzed the induction of EMT by Twist in epithelial cells.

Main Results:

  • Suppression of Twist expression significantly inhibited the metastatic capacity of tumor cells.
  • Overexpression of Twist induced an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in epithelial cells.
  • Provided direct evidence linking EMT to the metastatic process.

Conclusions:

  • The transcription factor Twist is a critical regulator of cancer metastasis.
  • Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an essential process during tumor metastasis.
  • Further research into EMT's role in metastasis is warranted.

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