EMT Pathway in Tumor Progression
Abstract Epithelial to mesenchymal transition pathway responsible for embryogenesis, organ development, and tumor metastasis is an important pathway in tumor progression. The gaining of mesenchymal properties such as migratory, invasive phenotype and losing the epithelial properties such as apical to basal polarity. EMT is a multi-step process i.e. from the gaining of mesenchymal features to the formation of a secondary tumor microenvironment through intravasation and extravasation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Loss or low E-cadherin expression is the major hallmark of this pathway. Various signaling pathways are involved in the induction of EMT that regulate it directly or indirectly. TGFβ, Wnt/β-Catenin, PI3K/Akt, STAT/LIV-1 signaling and Hedgehog signaling pathway are responsible for the induction of the EMT pathway through heterotypic signaling. Whereas GSK-3β, MTA3 repressor, and drugs such as Herceptin, erlotinib, and imatinib are responsible for the downregulation ...