Epithelial-mesenchymal transition in ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer is a highly metastatic disease and the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancy. Hence, and understanding of the molecular changes associated with ovarian cancer metastasis could lead to the identification of targets for novel therapeutic interventions. The conversion of an epithelial cell to a mesenchymal cell plays a key role both in the embryonic development and cancer invasion and metastasis. Cells undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) lose their epithelial morphology, reorganize their cytoskeleton and acquire a motile phenotype through the up- and down-regulation of several molecules including tight and adherent junctions proteins and mesenchymal markers. EMT is believed to be governed by signals from the neoplastic microenvironment including a variety of cytokines and growth factors. In ovarian cancer EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), epidermal growth factor (EGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and endothelin-1 (ET-1). Alterations in these cellular pathways candidate them as useful target for ovarian cancer treatment.
Vergara
Daniele
D
CNFS-FRE, IFR, Universite des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.
Merlot
Benjamin
B
Lucot
Jean-Philippe
JP
Collinet
Pierre
P
Vinatier
Denis
D
Fournier
Isabelle
I
Salzet
Michel
M
D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 / Q000502:physiology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000473:pathology*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology
C525809:BMP4 protein, human; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D015820:Cadherins; D019332:Endothelin-1; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor