Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2025
10:37
Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
Published on: August 27, 2013
35.7K
Factors Determining Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer Progression
Paulina Tomecka1, Dominika Kunachowicz2, Julia Górczyńska1
1Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|August 29, 2024
Summary
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) drives cancer progression and drug resistance. This review explores EMT's molecular mechanisms, epigenetic regulation, and therapeutic potential in oncology.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Oncology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular process where epithelial cells gain mesenchymal traits.
- EMT is crucial in cancer progression, contributing to metastasis, tumor heterogeneity, and drug resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the molecular mechanisms, epigenetic regulation, and cellular plasticity of EMT.
- To discuss the influence of microenvironmental factors on EMT.
- To explore the clinical implications and therapeutic targeting of EMT in cancer.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of in vivo and in vitro studies on EMT.
- Analysis of molecular signaling pathways and epigenetic modifications involved in EMT.
- Examination of clinical data and therapeutic strategies targeting EMT.
Main Results:
- EMT involves complex signaling pathways and transcription factor activation.
- Epigenetic modifications and microenvironmental cues significantly regulate EMT.
- EMT is implicated in various stages of cancer, from initiation to metastasis and treatment resistance.
Conclusions:
- Understanding EMT's multifaceted nature is key to developing novel cancer therapies.
- Targeting EMT offers promising strategies for improving oncological patient outcomes.
- Further research is needed to address challenges and explore future directions in EMT research.
Related Concept Videos
02:30Metastasis
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
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment
6.6K
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...
6.6K
01:19Cadherins 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
02:38Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
6.4K
Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
6.4K
02:07Tumor Progression
6.3K
Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
6.3K
02:53Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
5.7K
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,...
5.7K