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Updated: May 13, 2026
10:37
Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
Published on: August 27, 2013
Cadherins and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition
Alexander Gheldof1, Geert Berx
1Department for Molecular Biomedical Research, Unit of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium.
Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science
|March 14, 2013
Summary
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) involves transcription factors reprogramming cells, altering adhesion and migration. This process is crucial in development and cancer, with cadherin expression changes playing a key role.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Cancer Biology
Background:
- Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental cellular process involving transcriptional reprogramming.
- EMT is essential for embryonic development, including gastrulation and neural crest cell delamination.
- EMT is also implicated in cancer progression, contributing to malignancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of the interplay between EMT-inducing transcription factors and cadherin modulation.
- To detail how cadherin expression is regulated during EMT in both embryonic development and cancer progression.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on EMT-inducing transcription factors (e.g., Snail, ZEB, Twist).
- Analysis of cadherin family protein regulation during EMT.
- Focus on classical cadherins (E-cadherin, N-cadherin) and others (cadherin 7, -6B, -11).
Main Results:
- EMT-inducing transcription factors dynamically modulate cell adhesion by regulating cadherin expression.
- A key feature of cancer-related EMT is the switch between E-cadherin and N-cadherin.
- Specific cadherins, including E-cadherin, N-cadherin, cadherin 7, -6B, and -11, are regulated during EMT.
Conclusions:
- EMT transcription factors and cadherin modulation are intricately linked during development and cancer.
- Understanding these molecular mechanisms is vital for both developmental biology and oncology.
- Cadherin switching is a hallmark of EMT in malignancy.
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