Molecular requirements for epithelial–mesenchymal transition during tumor progression

MA Huber, N Kraut, H Beug - Current opinion in cell biology, 2005 - Elsevier
MA Huber, N Kraut, H Beug
Current opinion in cell biology, 2005Elsevier
Epithelial–mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) occur as key steps during embryonic
morphogenesis, and are now implicated in the progression of primary tumors towards
metastases. Recent advances have fostered a more detailed understanding of molecular
mechanisms and networks governing EMT in tumor progression. Besides TGFβ and
RTK/Ras signaling, autocrine factors and Wnt-, Notch-, Hedgehog-and NF-κB-dependent
pathways were found to contribute to EMT. Repression of E-cadherin by transcriptional …
Epithelial–mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) occur as key steps during embryonic morphogenesis, and are now implicated in the progression of primary tumors towards metastases. Recent advances have fostered a more detailed understanding of molecular mechanisms and networks governing EMT in tumor progression. Besides TGFβ and RTK/Ras signaling, autocrine factors and Wnt-, Notch-, Hedgehog- and NF-κB-dependent pathways were found to contribute to EMT. Repression of E-cadherin by transcriptional regulators such as Snail or Twist emerges as one critical step driving EMT, and this stage is currently being molecularly linked with many of the new players. Increasing evidence suggests that EMT plays a specific role in the migration of cells from a primary tumor into the circulation and may provide a rationale for developing more effective cancer therapies.
Elsevier