EMT : Present and future in clinical oncology

Abstract

Epithelial/mesenchymal transition ( EMT ) has emerged as a key regulator of metastasis by facilitating tumor cell invasion and dissemination to distant organs. Recent evidences support that the reverse mesenchymal/epithelial transition ( MET ) is required for metastatic outgrowth; moreover, the existence of hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) phenotypes is increasingly being reported in different tumor contexts. The accumulated data strongly support that plasticity between epithelial and mesenchymal states underlies the dissemination and metastatic potential of carcinoma cells. However, the translation into the clinics of EMT and epithelial plasticity processes presents enormous challenges and still remains a controversial issue. In this review, we will evaluate current evidences for translational applicability of EMT and depict an overview of the most recent EMT in vivo models, EMT marker analyses in human samples as well as potential EMT therapeutic approaches and ongoing clinical trials. We foresee that standardized analyses of EMT markers in solid and liquid tumor biopsies in addition to innovative tools targeting the E/M states will become promising strategies for future translation to the clinical setting.

Cited by papers we hold 6

• New insights into the correlations between circulating tumor cells and target organ metastasis · 2023
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• Tumor cell plasticity in targeted therapy-induced resistance: mechanisms and new strategies · 2023
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• The molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies of EMT in tumor progression and metastasis · 2022
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• STAT3 phosphorylation at Ser727 and Tyr705 differentially regulates the EMT–MET switch and cancer metastasis · 2020
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• Guidelines and definitions for research on epithelial–mesenchymal transition · 2020
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• Ovarian cancer: Current status and strategies for improving therapeutic outcomes · 2019
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