Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 16, 2025
07:49
Molecular Analysis of Endothelial-mesenchymal Transition Induced by Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling
Published on: August 3, 2018
11.4K
Shifting Shapes: The Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition as a Driver for Cancer Progression.
Lucia Giordanengo1, Alessia Proment1,2, Virginia Botta1
1Department of Oncology, Translational Oncology Laboratory "Paola Gilardi", San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano, Italy.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|July 12, 2025
Summary
Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) drives tumor growth by altering the tumor microenvironment. Understanding EndMT mechanisms offers new therapeutic strategies for cancer progression and treatment resistance.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Cancer research
- Tumor microenvironment
Background:
- Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) involves a cellular switch from endothelial to mesenchymal phenotypes.
- EndMT is increasingly recognized for its significant role in cancer development and progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the critical role of EndMT in tumor progression.
- To highlight the molecular mechanisms driving EndMT in cancer.
- To discuss EndMT's involvement across all stages of tumor development.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of EndMT in cancer progression.
- Analysis of molecular pathways involved in EndMT.
- Synthesis of EndMT's impact on tumor microenvironment, immunity, and therapy resistance.
Main Results:
- EndMT promotes tumor cell proliferation and survival.
- EndMT contributes to the formation of cancer-associated fibroblasts.
- EndMT is implicated in immune evasion, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance.
Conclusions:
- EndMT is a key factor in tumor growth and progression.
- Targeting EndMT pathways presents novel therapeutic opportunities.
- Further research into EndMT mechanisms can improve cancer treatment strategies.
Related Concept Videos
02:30Metastasis
5.7K
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...
5.7K
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment
6.8K
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...
6.8K
02:53Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
5.9K
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,...
5.9K
01:35Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia
2.4K
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,...
2.4K
02:07Tumor Progression
6.5K
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...
6.5K
02:40Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance
5.0K
Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
5.0K