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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Induction of Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transitions in Sarcoma Cells

Induction of Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transitions in Sarcoma Cells

Published on: April 7, 2017

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition under control: global programs to regulate epithelial plasticity.

M Angela Nieto¹, Amparo Cano

¹Instituto de Neurociencias, CSIC-UMH. Av. Santiago Ramón y Cajal s/n, 03550 San Juan de Alicante, Spain. anieto@umh.es

Seminars in Cancer Biology

|May 23, 2012

Summary

The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a dynamic process crucial for cancer metastasis. Understanding EMT as a reversible cellular plasticity is key to unraveling cancer progression and developing new therapies.

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Area of Science:

Oncology
Cell Biology
Cancer Research

Background:

The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a significant area of cancer research, but its precise role in tumor biology and metastasis remains debated.
Viewing EMT as a reversible and often incomplete process, reflecting epithelial plasticity, offers a new perspective.

Purpose of the Study:

To clarify the controversial role of EMT in cancer metastasis.
To highlight the significance of transient cellular states in the metastatic cascade.
To explore the impact of EMT on various cellular responses relevant to cancer progression.

Main Methods:

Review and synthesis of current research on EMT in cancer.
Analysis of the concept of epithelial plasticity in the context of metastasis.
Examination of cellular programs influencing EMT and their downstream effects.

Main Results:

EMT is better understood as a reversible process, a form of epithelial plasticity, rather than a terminal differentiation.
Transient cellular states facilitate each step of metastasis, from detachment to colonization.
Cellular programs regulating EMT also influence proliferation, stemness, drug resistance, and immune responses.

Conclusions:

Reinterpreting EMT as a dynamic, plastic process is crucial for understanding cancer progression and metastasis.
The plasticity of EMT impacts multiple hallmarks of cancer, including resistance to therapy and immune evasion.
Further research into EMT dynamics can inform the development of novel anti-cancer strategies.