title: Clinical impact of studying epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity in pluripotent stem cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ability of cells to travel long distances in order to form tissues and organs is inherently connected to embryogenesis. The process in which epithelial-like embryonic cells become motile and invasive is termed 'epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition' (EMT), while the reversion of this programme--yielding differentiated cells and organs--is called 'mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition' (MET).
  
  
  METHODS
  Here, we review the processes of EMT and MET in development and cancer and combine them with knowledge from pluripotent stem cell research.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Research has shown that these processes are activated in many cancers leading to dissemination of cancer cells throughout the body and formation of metastasis. While the regulation of EMT during cancer progression has been extensively studied for decades, many fundamental processes that govern normal development are only poorly understood. Recent discoveries, such as reprogramming to pluripotent stem cells and identification of ground and primed states of pluripotent stem cells, have redirected much attention to EMT and MET.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings from pluripotent stem cell research and EMT/MET should be combined in order to design future strategies aimed to improve our understanding of cancer progression and to help develop novel anticancer strategies.
authors: Institute of Medical Genetics, Center of Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Boris
authors: B
authors: Kovacic
authors: Margit
authors: M
authors: Rosner
authors: Katharina
authors: K
authors: Schipany
authors: Loredana
authors: L
authors: Ionce
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Hengstschläger
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D047108:Embryonic Development; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Cancer; embryonic developement; epithelial-to mesenchymal transition; mesenchymal-to epithelial transition; pluripotent stem cells