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Updated: Jun 9, 2026

A Preclinical Mouse Model of Osteosarcoma to Define the Extracellular Vesicle-mediated Communication Between Tumor and Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Published on: May 6, 2018
[Tumour stem cells and metastasis].
U F Wellner1, U T Hopt, T Brabletz
1Universitätsklinikum der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Chirurgische Klinik, Abteilung Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie, Freiburg, Deutschland. ulrich.wellner@uniklinikfreiburg.de
Cancer stem cells (CSC) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are key to cancer development and metastasis. Recent research links these phenomena, offering new insights into tumor progression and spread.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Cellular Biology
Context:
- Cancer development, invasion, and metastasis mechanisms are incompletely understood.
- Cancer stem cells (CSCs) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are implicated in these processes.
- CSCs are crucial for tumor development and persistence.
Purpose:
- To explore the relationship between cancer stem cells (CSCs) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
- To understand how CSCs and EMT contribute to cancer progression and metastasis.
Summary:
- The embryonic epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program is aberrantly activated in invasive cancer cells.
- EMT contributes significantly to tumor invasion and the spread of cancer.
- Emerging evidence indicates a close relationship between EMT traits and CSC characteristics.
Impact:
- This research provides novel explanatory models for cancer development and metastasis.
- Understanding the interplay between CSCs and EMT can lead to new therapeutic strategies.
- Highlights the importance of CSCs and EMT in understanding and combating metastatic cancer.
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