title: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition and breast cancer: role, molecular mechanisms and clinical impact.
abstract: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is defined by the loss of epithelial characteristics and the acquisition of a mesenchymal phenotype. In this process, cells acquire molecular alterations that facilitate dysfunctional cell-cell adhesive interactions and junctions. These processes may promote cancer cell progression and invasion into the surrounding microenvironment. Such transformation has implications in progression of breast carcinoma to metastasis, and increasing evidences support most tumors contain a subpopulation of cells with stem-like and mesenchymal features that is resistant to chemotherapy. This review focuses on the physiological and pathological role of EMT process, its molecular related network, its putative role in the metastatic process and its implications in response/resistance to the current and/or new approaching drugs in the clinical management of breast cancer.
authors: U.O. Multidisciplinare di Patologia Mammaria, Laboratorio di Oncologia Molecolare Senologica, Istituti Ospitalieri di Cremona,Viale Concordia 1, 26100 Cremona, Italy.
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Foroni
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Broggini
authors: Daniele
authors: D
authors: Generali
authors: Giovanna
authors: G
authors: Damia
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers