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Updated: May 5, 2026
10:37
Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
Published on: August 27, 2013
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Epithelial-mesenchymal transitions in development and disease
Jean Paul Thiery1, Hervé Acloque, Ruby Y J Huang
1IMCB, A*STAR, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Republic of Singapore. jpthiery@imcb.a-star.edu.sg
Cell
|December 1, 2009
Summary
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is vital for development and repair but can drive fibrosis, cancer progression, and metastasis by promoting cell migration and stemness.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Developmental biology
- Cancer biology
Background:
- The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental biological process.
- EMT is critical for embryonic development and tissue repair.
- Dysregulated EMT is implicated in diseases like fibrosis and cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the multifaceted roles of EMT in biological processes.
- To understand how EMT contributes to both normal development and pathological conditions.
- To highlight the cellular mechanisms underlying EMT's functions.
Main Methods:
- This study is a review of existing literature on EMT.
- Analysis of molecular mechanisms driving EMT.
- Examination of the consequences of EMT in development and disease.
Main Results:
- EMT facilitates cell migration, invasion, stemness, and resistance to apoptosis and senescence.
- The mesenchymal state induced by EMT is crucial for development and metastasis.
- EMT contributes to immunosuppression, aiding tumor progression.
Conclusions:
- EMT is a powerful cellular program with dual roles in health and disease.
- Understanding EMT mechanisms is key to developing therapies for cancer and fibrosis.
- EMT's role in stemness and migration is central to its developmental and metastatic functions.
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