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Updated: Dec 25, 2025

Induction of Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transitions in Sarcoma Cells
Published on: April 7, 2017
Metabolic reprogram associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition in tumor progression and metastasis
Yifan Wang1, Chenfang Dong2, Binhua P Zhou3
1Cancer Institute of Integrative Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310012, China.
Abstract:
Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is a de-differentiation program that imparts tumor cells with the phenotypic and cellular plasticity required for drug resistance, metastasis, and recurrence. This dynamic and reversible events is governed by a network of EMT-transcription factors (EMT-TFs) through epigenetic regulation. Many chromatin modifying-enzymes utilize metabolic intermediates as cofactors or substrates; this suggests that EMT is subjected to the metabolic regulation. Conversely, EMT rewires metabolic program to accommodate cellular changes during EMT. Here we summarize the latest findings regarding the epigenetic regulation of EMT, and discuss the mutual interactions among metabolism, epigenetic regulation, and EMT. Finally, we provide perspectives of how this interplay contributes to cellular plasticity, which may result in the clinical manifestation of tumor heterogeneity.
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