New insights into the mechanisms of epithelial–mesenchymal transition and implications for cancer
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular programme that is known to be crucial for embryogenesis, wound healing and malignant progression. During EMT, cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions are remodelled, which leads to the detachment of epithelial cells from each other and the underlying basement membrane, and a new transcriptional programme is activated to promote the mesenchymal fate. In the context of neoplasias, EMT confers on cancer cells increased tumour-initiating and metastatic potential and a greater resistance to elimination by several therapeutic regimens. In this Review, we discuss recent findings on the mechanisms and roles of EMT in normal and neoplastic tissues, and the cell-intrinsic signals that sustain expression of this programme. We also highlight how EMT gives rise to a variety of intermediate cell states between the epithelial and the mesenchymal state, which could function as cancer stem cells. In addition, we describe the contributions of the tumour microenvironment in inducing EMT and the effects of EMT on the immunobiology of carcinomas.
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In multiple carcinoma types, EMT raises the count of cells with cancer stem cell features.
“In a variety of carcinomas, EMT increases the number of carcinoma cells with stem cell properties, i.e. cancer stem cells (CSCs)34,37,127,137.”
From TGFβ biology in cancer progression and immunotherapy (2021) · cites this paper as [37]
EMT of carcinoma cells in response to increased TGF-β signaling is accompanied, in some tumors, by increased PD-L1 expression.
“Notably, EMT of carcinoma cells in response to increased TGF-β signaling is accompanied, in some tumors, by increased PD-L1 expression37,355,356.”
From TGFβ biology in cancer progression and immunotherapy (2021) · cites this paper as [37]
Snail1 is a zinc-finger transcription factor with an essential role in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
“Snail1, a zinc-finger transcription factor with an essential role in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)18.”
From Bioactivity descriptors for uncharacterized chemical compounds (2021) · cites this paper as [18]
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References 223 · Cited by 3,876
- Authors
- Dongre, A., & Weinberg, R. A.
- Affiliations
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research (US)
- Corresponding author
- Weinberg, Robert A.
- Venue
- Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology
- Published
- 2018-11-20
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 69-84
- ISSN
- 1471-0072 (ISSN-L)
- 1471-0080
- OpenAlex
- W2901068426
- Cited by
- 3,876
- References
- 223
- Citations by year
- 2026: 373 · 2025: 500 · 2024: 620 · 2023: 595 · 2022: 659 · 2021: 557 · 2020: 410 · 2019: 156 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 29.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Cancer Institute (P01CA080111)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Cells and Metastasis
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › TGF-β signaling in diseases
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Mechanisms of cancer metastasis
- Keywords
- epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, cancer stem cells, tumor microenvironment, cell-cell adhesion, extracellular matrix, transcriptional regulation, drug resistance, tumor immunology, embryonic development, wound healing, malignant progression
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Extracellular Matrix, Humans, Neoplasms, Neoplastic Stem Cells, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, Tumor Microenvironment
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