Docetaxel inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human mammary cells
Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a reversible and dynamic biological process in which epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal characteristics including enhanced stemness and migratory ability. EMT can facilitate cancer metastasis and is a known driver of cellular resistance to common chemotherapeutic drugs such as docetaxel. Current chemotherapeutic practices such as docetaxel treatment can promote EMT and increase the chance of tumour recurrence and resistance, calling for new approaches in cancer treatment. Here we show that prolonged docetaxel treatment at a sub-IC50 concentration inhibits EMT in immortalized human mammary epithelial (HMLE) cells. Using immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and bulk transcriptomic sequencing to assess EMT progression, we analysed a range of cellular markers of EMT in docetaxel-treated cells and observed an upregulation of epithelial markers and downregulation of mesenchymal markers in the presence of docetaxel. This finding suggests that docetaxel may have clinical applications not only as a cytotoxic drug but also as an inhibitor of EMT-driven metastasis and multidrug resistance, depending on the concentration of its use. Overall design: Comparative gene expression profiling using RNA-seq data for HMLE cells at 0 and 20 d upon exposure to EMT induction either with or without docetaxel.