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Updated: Jan 18, 2026

Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
10:37

Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition

Published on: August 27, 2013

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Pseudogenes in the carcinogenesis: epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition process and cancer initiating cells

Tomasz Kolenda1, Piotr Chałaj2, Aleksandra Cichowicz2

  • 1Laboratory of Cancer Genetics, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznan, Poland.

Reports of Practical Oncology and Radiotherapy : Journal of Greatpoland Cancer Center in Poznan and Polish Society of Radiation Oncology
|September 8, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Pseudogenes, once dismissed as "junk DNA", are now recognized for their roles in cancer development and progression. This review highlights specific pseudogenes involved in cancer-initiating cells and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, suggesting their potential as diagnostic biomarkers.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Pseudogenes were initially considered non-functional DNA.
  • Emerging evidence shows pseudogenes participate in crucial cellular processes, including cancerogenesis.
  • They regulate gene expression via competing for endogenous ribonucleic acid (ceRNA) networks and RNA binding proteins (RBPs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the roles of specific pseudogenes in cancer development, focusing on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer-initiating cells (CIC).
  • To explore the potential of pseudogenes as novel diagnostic biomarkers in oncology and personalized medicine.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of pseudogenes involved in cancer pathways.
  • Analysis of pseudogene functions in gene expression regulation.
  • Discussion of pseudogenes as potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Main Results:

  • Specific pseudogenes like CHIAP2, PTENP1, SUMO1P3, NANOGP8, OCT4-PG1/4, and HMGA1-P6 are implicated in EMT and CIC maintenance.
  • These pseudogenes can act as oncogenic or suppressive transcripts, influencing cancer progression.
  • Pseudogenes demonstrate potential as novel biomarkers for cancer diagnosis.

Conclusions:

  • Pseudogenes are functionally significant in cancer biology, impacting key processes like EMT and cancer stemness.
  • Investigating pseudogenes offers new insights into cancer development, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance.
  • Pseudogenes represent a promising new class of biomarkers for personalized oncology.
Keywords:
CICEMTbiomarkercancercancer-initiating cellsepithelial-to-mesenchymal transitionnon-coding RNApseudogene

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