Epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancermetastasis

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is initially considered as a physiological phenomenon during the embryogenesis of mammals, as well as a basic biological event maintaining the stability of the vital body. Recent researches indicated that EMT plays a critical role in various tumors progression, through which epithelial cancers invade and metastasize. The cell characteristics are changed during EMT, in which the cells lose cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions and apical polarity, reorganize their cytoskeleton, and become isolated, motile, as well as resistant to anoikis, then become spindle-shaped mesenchymal cells. This review lays emphasis on studying the cell morphogenesis, makers and molecular mechanism regulation about EMT, discussing the relationship between the EMT and the cancer development and metastasis.