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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Induction of Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transitions in Sarcoma Cells

Induction of Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transitions in Sarcoma Cells

Published on: April 7, 2017

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in tumor microenvironment.

Yingying Jing¹, Zhipeng Han, Shanshan Zhang

¹Tumor Immunology and Gene Therapy Center, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, the Second Military Medicial University, Shanghai, China. lixinwei@smmu.edu.cn.

Cell & Bioscience

|September 2, 2011

Summary

The tumor microenvironment, including inflammation and hypoxia, drives epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). This process promotes cancer metastasis through various signaling pathways.

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Area of Science:

Oncology
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is critical for embryonic development and tumor invasion.
EMT involves loss of cell adhesion, polarity changes, and increased motility, facilitating cancer metastasis.
The tumor microenvironment (TME) significantly influences EMT and cancer progression.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the role of the tumor microenvironment in inducing EMT.
To discuss signaling pathways implicated in TME-driven EMT.
To explore the interplay between the TME and EMT signaling.

Main Methods:

Literature review of existing research on EMT, TME, and cancer metastasis.
Analysis of signaling pathways (e.g., TGF-β, NF-κB, Wnt, Notch) involved in EMT.
Synthesis of current knowledge on TME components as EMT inducers.

Main Results:

The TME contains factors like inflammatory cells, hypoxia, cancer stem cells (CSCs), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that promote EMT.
Specific signaling pathways are activated within the TME to drive EMT.
Complex interactions exist between TME components and EMT signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

The TME is a key regulator of EMT, promoting tumor invasion and metastasis.
Targeting TME-induced EMT and its signaling pathways offers potential therapeutic strategies.
Further research is needed to fully elucidate the TME-EMT axis for cancer treatment.