Abstract
Similar to embryonic development, changes in cell phenotypes defined as an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) have been shown to play a role in the tumorigenic process. Although the first description of EMT in cancer was in cell cultures, evidence for its role in vivo is now widely reported but also actively debated. Moreover, current research has exemplified just how complex this phenomenon is in cancer, leaving many exciting, open questions for researchers to answer in the future. With these points in mind, we asked four scientists for their opinions on the role of EMT in cancer and the challenges faced by scientists working in this fast-moving field.
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Acknowledgements
R.K. thanks all the students, postdoctoral fellows and scientists in his laboratory who contributed to the research on EMT. Work in M.A.N.'s laboratory is funded by the European Research Council (ERC AdG322694) and BFU2014-53128-R. R.A.W. acknowledges funding received from the Ludwig Center of Molecular Oncology and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
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T.B., R.K. and M.A.N. declare no competing financial interests. R.A.W. has an interest in and is on the scientific advisory board for Verastem Inc.
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Brabletz, T., Kalluri, R., Nieto, M. et al. EMT in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 18, 128–134 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc.2017.118
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc.2017.118
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