Review
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition and breast cancer
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* Corresponding author: Jean P Thiery jpthiery@imcb.a-star.edu.sg
1 Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Singapore
2 St Vincent's Institute and University of Melbourne Department of Surgery, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria 3065, Australia
Breast Cancer Research 2009, 11:213 doi:10.1186/bcr2416
Published: 9 November 2009Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity in breast carcinoma encompasses the phenotypic spectrum whereby epithelial carcinoma cells within a primary tumor acquire mesenchymal features and re-epithelialize to form a cohesive secondary mass at a metastatic site. Such plasticity has implications in progression of breast carcinoma to metastasis, and will likely influence response to therapy. The transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of molecular and cellular processes that underlie breast cancer and result in characteristic changes in cell behavior can be monitored using an increasing array of marker proteins. Amongst these markers exists the potential for emergent prognostic, predictive and therapeutic targeting.