Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition by Synergy between Transforming Growth Factor-β and Growth Factors in Cancer Progression.
Masao SaitohPublished in: Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) (2022)
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in appropriate embryonic development, as well as wound healing, organ fibrosis, and cancer progression. During cancer progression, EMT is associated with the invasion, metastasis, and generation of circulating tumor cells and cancer stem cells, as well as resistance to chemo- and radiation therapy. EMT is induced by several transcription factors, known as EMT transcription factors (EMT-TFs). In nearly all cases, EMT-TFs appear to be regulated by growth factors or cytokines and extracellular matrix components. Among these factors, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β acts as the key mediator for EMT during physiological and pathological processes. TGF-β can initiate and maintain EMT by activating intracellular/intercellular signaling pathways and transcriptional factors. Recent studies have provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying sustained EMT in aggressive cancer cells, EMT induced by TGF-β, and crosstalk between TGF-β and growth factors.
Keyphrases
- epithelial mesenchymal transition
- transforming growth factor
- signaling pathway
- transcription factor
- radiation therapy
- papillary thyroid
- circulating tumor cells
- extracellular matrix
- squamous cell
- gene expression
- squamous cell carcinoma
- pi k akt
- wound healing
- induced apoptosis
- childhood cancer
- single molecule
- heat stress