Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2025

10:37
Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
Published on: August 27, 2013
35.8K
Wnt/β-catenin-driven EMT regulation in human cancers
Wenhua Xue1, Lin Yang2, Chengxin Chen1
1Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, People's Republic of China.
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS
|February 9, 2024
Summary
The Wnt/β-catenin/epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway drives cancer metastasis and drug resistance. Phytochemicals can suppress this axis, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Metastasis is responsible for 90% of cancer deaths.
- Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) accelerates cancer spread and drug resistance.
- The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a key regulator of EMT in human cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the role of the Wnt/β-catenin/EMT axis in cancer metastasis.
- To identify upstream regulators and potential therapeutic interventions for this pathway.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on Wnt/β-catenin signaling and EMT.
- Analysis of the mechanisms by which Wnt/β-catenin promotes metastasis and drug resistance.
- Exploration of non-coding RNAs and phytochemicals as modulators of the Wnt/β-catenin/EMT axis.
Main Results:
- Wnt/β-catenin signaling upregulates EMT, promoting tumor cell migration and invasion.
- This axis is implicated in the metastasis of both solid and hematological tumors.
- Non-coding RNAs are significant upstream regulators, and phytochemicals show potential in suppressing the Wnt/EMT axis.
Conclusions:
- The Wnt/β-catenin/EMT axis is a critical driver of cancer metastasis and therapeutic resistance.
- Targeting this pathway, potentially with phytochemicals, offers a promising strategy for combating cancer spread.
Related Concept Videos
Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway
8.8K
The gene encoding the main signaling molecules of the Wnt signaling pathways (the Wnt proteins) was discovered almost four decades ago by Nüsslein-Volhard and Wieschaus. They identified and originally named the gene "wingless" (wg) after a phenotype discovered during their landmark genetic screen in Drosophila for body pattern defects. At around the same time, another researcher named Harold Varmus found that a murine tumor virus activates the mammalian wg homolog, Int-1, which...
8.8K
Cadherins in Tissue Organization
3.0K
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...
3.0K
Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways
7.3K
Wnt is a zygotic effect gene that is expressed during very early embryonic development. It regulates various processes in animals starting from early development through the adult stage, such as organogenesis in the embryo and maintenance of neuronal and blood stem cells. Wnt proteins can induce a wide variety of intracellular pathways depending upon the specific abilities of different Wnt ligands to form a complex with shared and cognate receptors in the presence of different co-receptors. The...
7.3K
Catenins
2.3K
Catenins are characterized by multiple binding domains and dynamic structures that allow them to function as linker proteins in cell junction complexes. All catenins, except α-catenin, contain a characteristic protein sequence called the armadillo repeat and are therefore also called armadillo proteins.
Catenins in Cell Junctions
Catenins bind to cell adhesion molecules such as cadherins and link them to different cytoskeletal proteins depending on the type of cell junction. At the...
Catenins in Cell Junctions
Catenins bind to cell adhesion molecules such as cadherins and link them to different cytoskeletal proteins depending on the type of cell junction. At the...
2.3K
Metastasis
5.5K
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...
5.5K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
3.8K
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...
3.8K

