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Review
. 2020 Jun;13(6):100773.
doi: 10.1016/j.tranon.2020.100773. Epub 2020 Apr 22.

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer: A Historical Overview

Domenico Ribatti  1 , Roberto Tamma  2 , Tiziana Annese  2
Affiliations
Review

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer: A Historical Overview

Domenico Ribatti et al. Transl Oncol. 2020 Jun.

Abstract

Epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs), the acquisition of mesenchymal features from epithelial cells, occur during some biological processes and are classified into three types: the first type occurs during embryonic development, the second type is associated with adult tissue regeneration, and the third type occurs in cancer progression. EMT occurring during embryonic development in gastrulation, renal development, and the origin and fate of the neural crest is a highly regulated process, while EMT occurring during tumor progression is highly deregulated. EMT allows the solid tumors to become more malignant, increasing their invasiveness and metastatic activity. Secondary tumors frequently maintain the typical histologic characteristics of the primary tumor. These histologic features connecting the secondary metastatic tumors to the primary is due to a process called mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET). MET has been demonstrated in different mesenchymal tumors and is the expression of the reversibility of EMT. EMT modulation could constitute an approach to avoid metastasis. Some of the targeted small molecules utilized as antiproliferative agents have revealed to inhibit EMT initiation or maintenance because EMT is regulated through signaling pathways for which these molecules have been designed.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Main events in EMT.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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