New Insights Into the Role of Phenotypic Plasticity and EMT in Driving Cancer Progression

Bibliographic Details
Title: New Insights Into the Role of Phenotypic Plasticity and EMT in Driving Cancer Progression
Authors: Sugandha Bhatia, Peiyu Wang, Alan Toh, Erik W. Thompson
Source: Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, Vol 7 (2020)
Publisher Information: Frontiers Media S.A., 2020.
Publication Year: 2020
Collection: LCC:Biology (General)
Subject Terms: EMT, EMP, stem cell, CTCs, hybrid EMT states, metastasis, Biology (General), QH301-705.5
More Details: Tumor cells demonstrate substantial plasticity in their genotypic and phenotypic characteristics. Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) can be characterized into dynamic intermediate states and can be orchestrated by many factors, either intercellularly via epigenetic reprograming, or extracellularly via growth factors, inflammation and/or hypoxia generated by the tumor stromal microenvironment. EMP has the capability to alter phenotype and produce heterogeneity, and thus by changing the whole cancer landscape can attenuate oncogenic signaling networks, invoke anti-apoptotic features, defend against chemotherapeutics and reprogram angiogenic and immune recognition functions. We discuss here the role of phenotypic plasticity in tumor initiation, progression and metastasis and provide an update of the modalities utilized for the molecular characterization of the EMT states and attributes of cellular behavior, including cellular metabolism, in the context of EMP. We also summarize recent findings in dynamic EMP studies that provide new insights into the phenotypic plasticity of EMP flux in cancer and propose therapeutic strategies to impede the metastatic outgrowth of phenotypically heterogeneous tumors.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2296-889X
Relation: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmolb.2020.00071/full; https://doaj.org/toc/2296-889X
DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.00071
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/65d37d62e80a4f2986ad7f0d21efbbd9
Accession Number: edsdoj.65d37d62e80a4f2986ad7f0d21efbbd9
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:2296889X
DOI:10.3389/fmolb.2020.00071
Published in:Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences
Language:English