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Review
. 2021;2(1):36-47.
doi: 10.37349/etat.2021.00032. Epub 2021 Feb 28.

Non-invasive detection of epithelial mesenchymal transition phenotype and metastatic dissemination of lung cancer by liquid biopsy

Viviana De Rosa  1 , Rosa Fonti  1 , Silvana Del Vecchio  2 , Francesca Iommelli  1
Affiliations
Review

Non-invasive detection of epithelial mesenchymal transition phenotype and metastatic dissemination of lung cancer by liquid biopsy

Viviana De Rosa et al. Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2021.

Abstract

The occurrence of phenotype switch from an epithelial to a mesenchymal cell state during the activation of the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) program in cancer cells has been closely associated with the generation of invasive tumor cells that contribute to metastatic dissemination and treatment failure. Liquid biopsy represents an emergent non-invasive tool that may improve our understanding of the molecular events leading to cancer progression and initiating the metastatic cascade through the dynamic analysis of tumor-derived components isolated from body fluids. The present review will primarily focus on the applications of liquid biopsy in lung cancer patients for identifying EMT signature, elucidating molecular mechanisms underlying the acquisition of an invasive phenotype and detecting new targets for therapy.

Keywords: EMT; liquid biopsy; lung cancer; metastatic dissemination.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Role of tumor-derived components in cancer invasion
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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