title: [The role of TGF-β-related signal transduction pathways in pathogenesis of epithelial-mesenchymal transition as a key element in cancer development and progression].
abstract: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process that drives polarized, immotile epithelial cells to undergo multiple biochemical changes to acquire a mesenchymal cell phenotype. The characteristic features of EMT are cell apolarity, loss of cellular adhesion, reduced expression of E-cadherin and increased migratory capacity, as well as invasiveness. EMT is a physiological process that is essential for normal embryonic development. Additionally, abnormal activation of EMT contributes to some human pathologies such as tissue fibrosis, cancer cell invasion and metastasis. In both situations, the basic molecular mechanisms are similar, but lead to different effects depending on cell type and biological conditions of the environment.    TGF-β is a multifunctional cytokine that controls proliferation, differentiation and other functions in many cell types. It has been found that neoplastic development converts TGF-β into an oncogenic cytokine. It activates various molecular processes, which are engaged in EMT initiation. All that makes TGF-β a key regulator of EMT.
authors.affiliation: Katedra Onkologii, Zakład Chirurgii Onkologicznej Uniwersytetu Medycznego we Wrocławiu, pl. Hirszfelda 12, 53-413 Wrocław, Poland. pieniadzgosia@interia.pl
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pieniążek
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Donizy
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ziętek
authors.forename: Bartłomiej
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szynglarewicz
authors.forename: Rafał
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matkowski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018450:Disease Progression; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta