Review
Oncology
Xiaobo Zheng, Fuzhen Dai, Lei Feng, Hong Zou, Li Feng, Mingqing Xu
Summary: The interplay between epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity and cancer stem cells plays a crucial role in cancer progression, affecting the aggressiveness of tumor cells and their response to treatment. Understanding the dynamic nature of EMT as a hybrid state rather than a binary model is important for unraveling the complexities of cancer biology and developing targeted therapeutic interventions.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Dan Dong, Lei Na, Kailing Zhou, Zhuo Wang, Yu Sun, Qianqian Zheng, Jian Gao, Chenghai Zhao, Wei Wang
Summary: The research revealed that FZD5 prevents EMT in gastric cancer and is associated with longer survival. ELF3 acts as a downstream effector of FZD5, repressing ZEB1 expression and guarding against EMT.
CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Juliane Strietz, Stella S. Stepputtis, Marie Follo, Peter Bronsert, Elmar Stickeler, Jochen Maurer
Summary: Primary breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) cultures isolated from TNBC specimens have been established and shown to grow as tumor spheres under anchorage-independent culture conditions in vitro, while reliably forming tumors in mice when transplanted in limiting dilutions in vivo. Additionally, these BCSC xenograft tumors exhibit similar architecture and gene expression to the original patient tumor, suggesting a promising model for researching BCSC biology and testing new treatment options for TNBC.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yeon-Jee Kahm, Uhee Jung, Rae-Kwon Kim
Summary: CTNNAL1 is a protein involved in cell-cell adhesion and has been found to have various roles in cancer development and progression. It acts as a cancer suppressor gene in breast cancer, but as a cancer driver gene in melanoma and lung cancer. This study reveals that CTNNAL1 regulates cancer stem cells (CSCs) in lung cancer and glioblastoma, affecting their ability to migrate, invade, and resist treatments like irradiation. Furthermore, CTNNAL1 is also involved in the secretion of CCL2, a chemokine known to influence malignancy and metastasis in cancer. These findings suggest that CTNNAL1 may serve as a potential target for treating lung CSCs and glioma stem cells, as well as a marker of malignancy.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joanna Kozak, Alicja Forma, Marcin Czeczelewski, Pawel Kozyra, Elzbieta Sitarz, Elzbieta Radzikowska-Buchner, Monika Sitarz, Jacek Baj
Summary: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key process in the development of gastric cancer, affecting patient outcomes. There is an urgent need for research on pharmacological agents targeting EMT to prevent progression and potential metastasis of gastric cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rodrigo A. Acuna, Manuel Varas-Godoy, Diego Herrera-Sepulveda, Mauricio A. Retamal
Summary: Connexins are a family of proteins that play a crucial role in cellular communication, but certain types may have pro-tumorigenic effects. Research has shown that Cx46 can modulate the characteristics of cancer stem cells and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cells, potentially influencing future cancer therapies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Cheng Zhang, Yu Liang, Chun-Dong Zhang, Jun-Peng Pei, Kun-Zhe Wu, Yong-Zhi Li, Dong-Qiu Dai
Summary: LINC01235 is significantly over-expressed in gastric cancer cells and tissues, and its high expression is positively correlated with poor prognosis. It can promote cancer cell metastasis through the EMT pathway.
Article
Oncology
Changhwan Yoon, Jun Lu, Yukyung Jun, Yun-Suhk Suh, Bang-Jin Kim, Jacob E. Till, Jong Hyun Kim, Sara H. Keshavjee, Sandra Ryeom, Sam S. Yoon
Summary: Activation of KRAS in gastric cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) enhances secretion of pro-angiogenic factors, promoting tumor progression and metastasis.
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Dong Ik Cha, Jeeyun Lee, Woo Kyoung Jeong, Seung Tae Kim, Jae-Hun Kim, Jung Yong Hong, Won Ki Kang, Kyoung-Mee Kim, Seon Woo Kim, DongilW Choi
Summary: The study developed a predictive model for the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) subtype of gastric cancer using computed tomography (CT) images and known clinicopathologic variables. A nomogram was constructed for individualized estimation of EMT subtype, providing a useful screening tool for personalized medicine.
EUROPEAN RADIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Changhwan Yoon, Jun Lu, Yukyung Jun, Yun-Suhk Suh, Bang-Jin Kim, Jacob E. Till, Jong Hyun Kim, Sara H. Keshavjee, Sandra Ryeom, Sam S. Yoon
Summary: This study reveals that KRAS activation in gastric cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) enhances the secretion of pro-angiogenic factors and promotes tumor progression and metastasis. Inhibition of KRAS significantly reduces the secretion of factors such as VEGF-A, which are important for tumor angiogenesis. Additionally, high expression of the gastric CSC marker CD44 is associated with expression of both KRAS and VEGF-A, and predicts worse overall survival in gastric cancer patients.
Article
Oncology
Beiqin Yu, Nan Zhu, Zhiyuan Fan, Jianfang Li, Yani Kang, Bingya Liu
Summary: The study demonstrates the importance of the miR-29c-VEGFA/VEGFR2/ERK signaling axis in the metastasis progression of gastric cancer, regulating EMT and CSCs properties. These findings provide potential targets for clinical intervention in gastric cancer.
Review
Oncology
Yoann Daniel, Elise Lelou, Caroline Aninat, Anne Corlu, Florian Cabillic
Summary: Tumor cells have the ability to transform into cancer stem cells under the influence of the tumor environment, which are relatively quiescent and exhibit a specific metabolism. Understanding this process could lead to the development of targeted therapies to eradicate cancer more effectively.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Huda I. Atiya, Grace Gorecki, Geyon L. Garcia, Leonard G. Frisbie, Roja Baruwal, Lan Coffman
Summary: The ability of cancer cells to detach from the primary site and metastasize is the main cause of cancer-related death. The first event in the metastatic cascade is epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which leads to the loss of cell-cell adhesion and the acquisition of motile and stem-like phenotypes. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a critical role in modulating EMT in cancer cells, promoting the acquisition of a mesenchymal phenotype through interaction or changes with cancer cells.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qi Chen, Meng Gu, Zhi-kang Cai, Hu Zhao, Shi-cheng Sun, Chong Liu, Ming Zhan, Yan-bo Chen, Zhong Wang
Summary: CD44 serves as a marker of cancer stem cells in many tumors, with alternative splicing generating various isoforms. This study reveals a novel mechanism where TGF-beta 1 induces CD44 alternative splicing, promoting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and stemness in prostate cancer cells. The findings demonstrate the important roles of CD44 isoforms and TGF-beta 1 in tumor progression.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Oncology
JunJian He, WeiChao Hu, Qin Ouyang, ShengWei Zhang, LiJiao He, WeiYan Chen, XinZhe Li
Summary: This paper reviews the pathogenic mechanisms by which H. pylori induces gastric stem cell-like properties and CSCs, and supplements the existing Correa model. H. pylori infection leads to dysfunction of developmental signaling pathways and alteration of gastric mucosal microenvironment, potentially promoting gastric stem cell-like properties through epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
