Nur Akmarina B.M. Said

Growth factors in induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis.

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) has gained widespread acceptance over recent years as a mechanism by which normally sessile epithelial tumour cells can move away from the primary tumour and metastasize. This review article examines the role of a number of growth factors in inducing EMT, and the reverse process mesenchymal to epithelial transition. Unique and common intracellular signalling pathways are highlighted. A comprehensive understanding of the regulation of EMT will be critical in manipulating this process to develop novel anti-metastasis therapies.

Strategies and Challenges for Systematically Mapping Biologically Significant Molecular Pathways Regulating Carcinoma Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Enormous progress has been made towards understanding the role of specific factors in the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT); however, the complex underlying pathways and the transient nature of the transition continues to present significant challenges. Targeting tumour cell plasticity underpinning EMT is an attractive strategy to combat metastasis. Global gene expression profiling and high-content analyses are among the strategies employed to identify novel EMT regulators. In this review, we highlight several approaches to systematically interrogate key pathways involved in EMT, with particular emphasis on the features of multiparametric, high-content imaging screening strategies that lend themselves to the systematic discovery of highly significant modulators of tumour cell plasticity.

Contents Vol. 197, 2013

Founded 1945 as ‘Acta Anatomica’ by R. Chambers, G. Glimstedt, T. Peterfi and G. Wolf-Heidegger Continued 1962–1974 by E.A. Boyden, 1955–1980 by A. Delmas, 1972–1980 by F. Walberg, 1945–1980 by G. Wolf-Heidegger, 1981–1988 by R. O’Rahilly, Davis, Calif., 1989–1990 by G.E. Goslow, Jr., Providence, R.I., 1981–1992 by W. Lierse, Hamburg, since 1992 by H.-W. Denker, Essen, and A.W. English, Atlanta, Ga., continued 1999 as ‘Cells Tissues Organs’ by H.-W. Denker, Essen, and A.W. English, Atlanta, Ga.