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Review
. 2010 Dec;14(12):2697-701.
doi: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2010.01191.x.

The relationship between early embryo development and tumourigenesis

Yanlei Ma  1 , Peng Zhang, Feng Wang, Jianjun Yang, Zhe Yang, Huanlong Qin
Affiliations
Review

The relationship between early embryo development and tumourigenesis

Yanlei Ma et al. J Cell Mol Med. 2010 Dec.

Abstract

With the recent substantial progress in developmental biology and cancer biology, the similarities between early embryo development and tumourigenesis, as well as the important interaction between tumours and embryos become better appreciated. In this paper, we review in detail the embryonic origin of tumour, and the similarities between early embryo development and tumourigenesis with respect to cell invasive behaviours, epigenetic regulation, gene expression, protein profiling and other important biological behaviours. Given an improved understanding of the relationship between early embryo development and tumourigenesis, now we have better and broader resources to attack cancer from the perspective of developmental biology and develop next generation of prognostic and therapeutic approaches for this devastating disease.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Similar signalling pathways in early embryo development and tumourigenesis. Patterning and morphogenesis during early embryo development are co-ordinated by Wnt, FGF, BMP, Notch and Hedgehog signalling pathways (left panel). During tumourigenesis, these pathways are reactivated and contribute to cancer progression and metastasis (right panel).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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