Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026

The Establishment of a Lung Colonization Assay for Circulating Tumor Cell Visualization in Lung Tissues
Published on: June 16, 2018
The inflammatory tumor microenvironment, epithelial mesenchymal transition and lung carcinogenesis
Eileen L Heinrich1, Tonya C Walser, Kostyantyn Krysan
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, 37-131 CHS Building, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
None:
The inflammatory tumor microenvironment (TME) has many roles in tumor progression and metastasis, including creation of a hypoxic environment, increased angiogenesis and invasion, changes in expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) and an increase in a stem cell phenotype. Each of these has an impact on epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), particularly through the downregulation of E-cadherin. Here we review seminal work and recent findings linking the role of inflammation in the TME, EMT and lung cancer initiation, progression and metastasis. Finally, we discuss the potential of targeting aspects of inflammation and EMT in cancer prevention and treatment.
Related Concept Videos
The Tumor Microenvironment
The Tumor Microenvironment
Metastasis
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...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Cellular Adaptation IV: Dysplasia and Metaplasia
Tumor Progression
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...

