title: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal(-like) transition as a relevant molecular event in malignant gliomas.
abstract: Tumor dissemination and metastatic behavior account for the vast majority of cancer associated mortality. Epithelial tumors achieve this progressive state via epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT); however, the importance of this process in the neuroepithelial context is currently very controversially discussed. The review describes the current research status concerning EMT-like changes in malignant gliomas including the role of TWIST1, ZEB1/ZEB2 and SNAIl1/SNAIl2 as inducers for cell-invasiveness in GBMs. Furthermore, WNT/β-catenin signaling with its key-component FRIZZLED4 activating an EMT-like program in malignant gliomas and its relationship to the stem-like phenotype as well as discoveries on micro-RNA-level regulating the EMT-like process are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Neurosurgery, Section of Stereotactic Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: U D
authors.initials: UD
authors.lastname: Kahlert
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nikkhah
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maciaczyk
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005910:Glioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans