Title |
Breast cancer epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition: examining the functional consequences of plasticity
|
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Published in |
Breast Cancer Research, November 2011
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DOI | 10.1186/bcr3037 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
David J Drasin, Tyler P Robin, Heide L Ford |
Abstract |
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical developmental process that has recently come to the forefront of cancer biology. In breast carcinomas, acquisition of a mesenchymal-like phenotype that is reminiscent of an EMT, termed oncogenic EMT, is associated with pro-metastatic properties, including increased motility, invasion, anoikis resistance, immunosuppression and cancer stem cell characteristics. This oncogenic EMT is a consequence of cellular plasticity, which allows for interconversion between epithelial and mesenchymal-like states, and is thought to enable tumor cells not only to escape from the primary tumor, but also to colonize a secondary site. Indeed, the plasticity of cancer cells may explain the range of pro-metastatic traits conferred by oncogenic EMT, such as the recently described link between EMT and cancer stem cells and/or therapeutic resistance. Continued research into this relationship will be critical in developing drugs that block mechanisms of breast cancer progression, ultimately improving patient outcomes. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 3 | 2% |
Portugal | 1 | <1% |
Italy | 1 | <1% |
United Kingdom | 1 | <1% |
Brazil | 1 | <1% |
Spain | 1 | <1% |
Canada | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 139 | 94% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 40 | 27% |
Student > Master | 22 | 15% |
Researcher | 15 | 10% |
Student > Bachelor | 13 | 9% |
Student > Postgraduate | 11 | 7% |
Other | 26 | 18% |
Unknown | 21 | 14% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 50 | 34% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 34 | 23% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 21 | 14% |
Engineering | 6 | 4% |
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 3 | 2% |
Other | 12 | 8% |
Unknown | 22 | 15% |