Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 7, 2025

10:37
Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
Published on: August 27, 2013
36.2K
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Its Regulation Mechanisms in Pancreatic Cancer
1Management & Marketing Department, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia.
Frontiers in Oncology
|April 30, 2021
Summary
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a key role in pancreatic cancer progression and metastasis. Recent discoveries highlight novel EMT-regulating factors crucial for understanding and potentially treating this deadly cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal malignancy with limited therapeutic options.
- The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is implicated in pancreatic cancer's development and spread, though its precise role is debated.
- Understanding EMT mechanisms is critical for advancing pancreatic cancer research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the established and emerging roles of EMT in pancreatic cancer.
- To summarize recently identified EMT-regulating factors in pancreatic cancer.
- To connect EMT mechanisms with pancreatic cancer progression and metastasis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on EMT in pancreatic cancer.
- Analysis of research on EMT-regulating factors.
- Synthesis of current understanding of EMT's role as a hallmark of pancreatic cancer.
Main Results:
- EMT is increasingly recognized as a critical hallmark in pancreatic cancer.
- Several novel factors regulating EMT in pancreatic cancer have been identified.
- These factors offer new insights into pancreatic cancer's aggressive nature.
Conclusions:
- EMT is a significant driver of pancreatic cancer progression and metastasis.
- The identified EMT-regulating factors represent key advances in understanding pancreatic cancer.
- Further research into these factors may lead to novel therapeutic strategies.
Related Concept Videos
Metastasis
6.0K
Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
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...
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...
6.0K
Cadherins in Tissue Organization
3.5K
The cadherins are a superfamily of cell adhesion molecules comprising over 180 variants, with specific tissues expressing a particular combination of cadherin types. Cadherins generally exhibit homophilic binding; i.e., cadherins on one cell bind to cadherins of the same or closely related type on another cell. Thus, cells of the same type have a specific affinity to bind to each other and sort themselves into clusters to form tissues.
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
3.5K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
4.0K
The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
The mTOR pathway or the...
4.0K
The Tumor Microenvironment
7.2K
Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
7.2K
Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia
2.5K
Invadosome is a broad category of cell surface structures with proteolytic activity that degrades the extracellular matrix (ECM). Invadosomes are present in normal cell types, including macrophages, endothelial cells, and neurons, as well as tumor cells. Although the macrophage podosomes and tumor cell invadopodia are classified as invadosomes, they have different structures, molecular pathways, and functions. Podosomes are short structures that last for a few minutes. However,...
2.5K
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
6.1K
Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
6.1K

