Therapeutic implications of cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)

Abstract

Theepithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) comprises an essential biological process involvingcancerprogression as well as initiation. While theEMThas been regarded as a phenotypic conversion fromepithelialtomesenchymalcells, recent evidence indicates that it plays a critical role in stemness, metabolic reprogramming, immune evasion andtherapeuticresistance ofcancercells. Interestingly, several transcriptional repressors including Snail (SNAI1), Slug (SNAI2) and the ZEB family constitute key players forEMTincanceras well as in the developmental process. Note that the dynamic conversion betweenEMTandepithelialreversion (mesenchymal-epithelialtransition, MET) occurs through variable intermediate-hybrid states rather than being a binary process. Given the close connection between oncogenic signaling andEMTrepressors, theEMThas emerged as atherapeutictarget or goal (in terms of MET reversion) incancertherapy. Here we review the critical role ofEMTintherapeuticresistance and the importance ofEMTas atherapeutictarget for humancancer.