title: Sox4, EMT programs, and the metastatic progression of breast cancers: mastering the masters of EMT.
abstract: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) programs require the expression of a variety of so-called master regulators of EMT, including members of the Snail, Zeb, and Twist transcription factor families. Teleologically, the requirement for such a diverse group of 'master regulators' seems evolutionarily cumbersome, and emerging evidence indicates that these transcription factors do in fact mediate unique and specialized functions, suggesting the existence of higher-order 'masters' that truly direct and coordinate EMT programs. Accordingly, Tiwari and colleagues recently delineated an elegant pathway wherein transforming growth factor-beta stimulates Sox4 expression, which induces that of the histone methyltransferase, Ezh2, thereby reprogramming the epigenome to elicit EMT programs and metastasis of breast cancers. This viewpoint highlights Sox4 as a 'new' master of EMT programs and metastatic breast cancer.
authors: Jenny G
authors: JG
authors: Parvani
authors: William P
authors: WP
authors: Schiemann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000235:genetics; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 / Q000235:genetics; D055751:SOXC Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2; D055751:SOXC Transcription Factors
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