Blebbing as a physical force in cancer EMT - parallels with mitosis.
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) during metastasis is initially a two-step process beginning with delamination of cells from the solid tumor followed by acquisition of a migratory phenotype. Several reports indicate that plasma membrane blebbing, associated with cell division, coincides with cell delamination during developmental EMT. This raises a speculative question if blebbing drives EMT in cancer cells in a similar way. Here, we review available data on factors and processes that may support such a connection.
Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Scheeles vag 1, SE 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. petra.sekyrova@ki.se
Petra
P
Sekyrova
Joel
J
Östblom
Michael
M
Andäng
D002465:Cell Movement; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions / Q000378:metabolism; D008938:Mitosis; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D007477:Ions