Journal Article

Epithelial Plasticity: A Common Theme in Embryonic and Cancer Cells

Nieto, M. Angela

2013

Overview

To form different tissues and organs, embryonic cells must migrate to new locations. Specific transcription factors, epigenetic and splicing programs, and microRNA regulatory networks regulate this process, which is known as the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). During EMT, considerable cellular plasticity is observed, and once activated at their new location, cells must again change into their new differentiated form. This “reverse” event is called the mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET). Nieto (p. 10.1126/science.1234850 ) reviews EMT and MET as observed during normal development and in the generation of cancer when cells leave the primary tumor and travel to other parts of the body forming metastases and secondary tumors. During embryonic development, many cells are born far from their final destination and must travel long distances. To become motile and invasive, embryonic epithelial cells undergo a process of mesenchymal conversion known as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Likewise, EMT can be seen in cancer cells as they leave the primary tumor and disseminate to other parts of the body to colonize distant organs and form metastases. In addition, through the reverse process (mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition), both normal and carcinoma cells revert to the epithelial phenotype to, respectively, differentiate into organs or form secondary tumors. The parallels in phenotypic plasticity in normal morphogenesis and cancer highlight the importance of studying the embryo to understand tumor progression and to aid in the design of improved therapeutic strategies.

• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science,The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subject: Animal models / Animals / Cancer / Carcinoma - pathology / Cell Movement / Cells / Cellular / Cellular biology / Cellular differentiation / Congenital defects / Cytology / Developmental Programs / Disease Models, Animal / Embryology / Embryonic cells / Embryonic growth stage / Embryonic stem cells / Embryonic Stem Cells - physiology / Embryos / epigenetics / Epithelial cells / Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / epithelium / Genotype & phenotype / Government regulations / Humans / Mesenchymal stem cells / Metastasis / Mice / microRNA / neoplasm cells / neoplasms / Neoplasms - drug therapy / Neoplasms - pathology / Neoplastic Stem Cells - drug effects / Neoplastic Stem Cells - physiology / Networks / Organs / Plasticity / REVIEW SUMMARY / Splicing / Stem cells / transcription (genetics) / transcription factors / Transportation networks / Tumors