fig1

Figure 1. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition relies upon a gradually orchestrated switch from a polarized, epithelial phenotype to a highly motile fibroblastic or mesenchymal phenotype. Epithelial cells are polarized with strong cell-cell cohesions and are organized by multiple cell junction proteins such as E-Cadherin, Occludin, Zonula Occludens, β-catenin and other epithelial markers. During EMT, tumor cells lose their epithelial features and acquire a mesenchymal phenotype, which promotes their motility and invasive capacity. The switch is acquired through a deep reprogramming of the transcriptional landscape and involves activation of EMT transcription factors such as ZEBs, reorganization of cytoskeletal components by regulation of proteins such as Vimentin, and modulation of expression/secretion of invasion-mediating proteases such as matrix metalloproteinases