Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transformation

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transformation (EMT) is a process that takes place in embryonic development, wound healing and cancer metastasis. It is an integral step in the biological transformation from a stationary to a migratory state. During EMT, epithelial cells lose their cell-to-cell adhesion and lose their apical-basal polarity. This causes them to become more motile and gain the ability to migrate away from the epithelial layer and invade the surrounding tissues. It has been demonstrated to play a key role in the progression of cancer and is associated with increased invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. EMT is therefore an important aspect of cancer research, and its study is of great importance for the development of anti-cancer therapies.