title: The architect who never sleeps: tumor-induced plasticity.
abstract: Tumor cell plasticity is an event that has been observed in several malignancies. In fact, most of the solid tumors are characterized by cellular heterogeneity and undergo constant changes as the tumor develops. The increased plasticity displayed by these cells allows them to acquire additional properties, enabling epithelial-mesenchymal transitions, dedifferentiation and the acquisition of stem cell-like properties. Here we discuss the particular importance of an inflammatory microenvironment for the bidirectional control of cellular plasticity and the potential for therapeutic intervention.
authors.affiliation: Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 42-44, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Varga
authors.affiliation: Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 42-44, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Tiago
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: De Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 42-44, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Electronic address: greten@gsh.uni-frankfurt.de.
authors.forename: Florian R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Greten
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D006801:Humans; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Cancer; Cell plasticity; Tumor microenvironment