Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, stem cells, and cancer progression

Joseph H. Taube, Sendurai A. Mani

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process whereby epithelial cells lose epithelial characteristics, such as expression of E-cadherin, detach from neighboring epithelial cells, and become more migratory and invasive, all of which are characteristics of mesenchymal cells. In addition, cells that undergoes EMT exhibit properties of stem cells, including the ability to self-renew and give rise to multiple differentiated progeny. The process of EMT is centered on the loss of E-cadherin at the cell membrane, through either transcriptional or post-transcriptional regulation. Numerous transcription factors repress E-cadherin, and upregulation of these genes is commonly associated with malignancies. Characterizing and detecting EMTs in cancer and further defining how an EMT generates cells with stem-cell characteristics will advance our ability to treat cancer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationStem Cell, Regenerative Medicine and Cancer
PublisherNova Science Publishers, Inc.
Pages643-666
Number of pages24
ISBN (Print)9781617287879
StatePublished - 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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