Year: 2022
Type: review
Abstract: The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its reversal, the mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) are critical components of the metastatic cascade in breast cancer and many other solid tumor types. Recent work has uncovered the presence of a variety of states encompassed within the EMT spectrum, each of which may play unique roles or work collectively to impact tumor progression. However, defining EMT status is not routinely carried out to determine patient prognosis or dictate therapeutic decision-making in the clinic. Identifying and quantifying the presence of various EMT states within a tumor is a critical first step to scoring patient tumors to aid in determining prognosis. Here, we review the major strides taken towards translating our understanding of EMT biology from bench to bedside. We review previously used approaches including basic immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry, single-cell sequencing, and multiplexed tumor mapping. Future studies will benefit from the consideration of multiple methods and combinations of markers in designing a diagnostic tool for detecting and measuring EMT in patient tumors.
Source: Cancers
Institutions: Dartmouth College, Dartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center
Language: English
Topic: Cancer Cells and Metastasis
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,513
Funder: National Cancer Institute
Award: Cancer Center Support Grant
OpenAlex ID: W4212948448