Transitions between epithelial and mesenchymal states: acquisition of malignant and stem cell traits

Abstract

Transitions between epithelial and mesenchymal states have crucial roles in embryonic development. Emerging data suggest a role for these processes in regulating cellular plasticity in normal adult tissues and in tumours, where they can generate multiple, distinct cellular subpopulations contributing to intratumoural heterogeneity. Some of these subpopulations may exhibit more differentiated features, whereas others have characteristics of stem cells. Owing to the importance of these tumour-associated phenotypes in metastasis and cancer-related mortality, targeting the products of such cellular plasticity is an attractive but challenging approach that is likely to lead to improved clinical management of cancer patients.

Long non‐coding RNA SNHG14 induces trastuzumab resistance of breast cancer via regulating PABPC1 expression through H3K27 acetylation

“…Trastuzumab (Herceptin) was obtained from Roche (Basel, Switzerland) and dissolved in sterile water. Trastuzumab‐resistant SKBR‐3/Tr and BT474/Tr cells were obtained by continuous culture with 5 mg/mL trastuzumab for 6 months as previously reported,11, 12 and were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium with 250 μg/mL trastuzumab.…”

“…In recent years, emerging evidence indicates that they play important roles in regulating cellular and biological functions. LncRNAs can regulate gene expression at post‐transcriptional level via sponging microRNAs10 and modulate transcriptional gene silencing via the chromatin regulation 11, 12. Thus, the investigation of the role of lncRNAs in breast cancer could help with the understanding of tumorigenesis and the identification of novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets.…”

Prognostic value of association of OCT4 with LEF1 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and their impact on epithelial‐mesenchymal transition, invasion, and migration

“…Epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a dedifferentiation program in which cells lose their epithelial features and gain migratory behavior, enabling movement away from the epithelial cell community to the surrounding tissue 3. EMT is also associated with tumor recurrence and metastasis by enhancing cell motility, as well as with poor patient prognosis 4.…”

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cells: emerging targets for novel cancer therapy

“…2 EMT in cancer is believed to enhance metastasis because of the increased migratory and invasive capacity of mesenchymal cells. 3,4 The zinc-finger transcription factors SNAIL, SLUG, ZEB1 and TWIST, repress genes responsible for the epithelial phenotype and induce genes responsible for the mesenchymal phenotype, thereby representing important regulators of EMT. 2 Both EMT and CSCs play critical roles in cancer metastasis and therapeutic resistance, and they share molecular characteristics.…”

“…2 Both EMT and CSCs play critical roles in cancer metastasis and therapeutic resistance, and they share molecular characteristics. 3 A strong association between EMT-associated gene expression and 5 As EMT promotes CSC formation, targeting EMT in broad cancer histologies may be a promising therapeutic strategy along with CSC-targeting agents.…”