Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition History: From Embryonic Development to Cancers
Camille Lachat, Paul Peixoto, Éric Hervouet
Abstract
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process that allows epithelial cells to progressively acquire a reversible mesenchymal phenotype. Here, we recount the main events in the history of EMT. EMT was first studied during embryonic development. Nowadays, it is an important field in cancer research, studied all around the world by more and more scientists, because it was shown that EMT is involved in cancer aggressiveness in many different ways. The main features of EMT's involvement in embryonic development, fibrosis and cancers are briefly reviewed here.
Topics & Concepts
Epithelial–mesenchymal transitionEmbryonic stem cellMesenchymal stem cellEmbryogenesisTransition (genetics)BiologyCell biologyEmbryoGeneticsGeneCancer Cells and MetastasisEpigenetics and DNA MethylationCancer-related Molecular Pathways