The molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies of EMT in tumor progression and metastasis

• Published in: Journal of hematology and oncology Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 1 - 27
• Main Authors: Huang, Yuhe, Hong, Weiqi, Wei, Xiawei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central 08.09.2022; BioMed Central Ltd; BMC
• Subjects: Analysis; Antisense RNA; Cancer; Cancer Research; Cell adhesion & migration; Chemotherapy; Circulating tumor cells; Cytoskeleton; Development and progression; Embryogenesis; Epigenetic inheritance; Epigenetics; Epithelial–mesenchymal transition; Gene expression; Genetic transcription; Health aspects; Hematology; Immunotherapy; Invasiveness; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mesenchyme; Metastases; Metastasis; Molecular modelling; Morphogenesis; Oncology; Post-translation; Review; Stem cells; Tissue engineering; Transcription factors; Tumor cells; Tumor stemness; Tumorigenesis; Wound healing; Epithelial–mesenchymal transition; Metastasis; Circulating tumor cells; Tumor stemness
• ISSN: 1756-8722; 1756-8722
• DOI: 10.1186/s13045-022-01347-8

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an essential process in normal embryonic development and tissue regeneration. However, aberrant reactivation of EMT is associated with malignant properties of tumor cells during cancer progression and metastasis, including promoted migration and invasiveness, increased tumor stemness, and enhanced resistance to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. EMT is tightly regulated by a complex network which is orchestrated with several intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including multiple transcription factors, post-translational control, epigenetic modifications, and noncoding RNA-mediated regulation. In this review, we described the molecular mechanisms, signaling pathways, and the stages of tumorigenesis involved in the EMT process and discussed the dynamic non-binary process of EMT and its role in tumor metastasis. Finally, we summarized the challenges of chemotherapy and immunotherapy in EMT and proposed strategies for tumor therapy targeting EMT.