EMT Factors and Metabolic Pathways in Cancer

The document discussed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process where epithelial cells transform into a mesenchymal phenotype, which is crucial in development and wound healing but can be exploited by cancer cells to resist apoptosis and treatment, and to gain invasiveness and stem cell-like properties. It highlighted that EMT is a complex and multifactorial process involving transcription factors, epigenetic changes, microRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs. The review emphasized the emerging recognition of metabolic pathways' roles in EMT, noting that alterations in pathways like glycolysis, the TCA cycle, and lipid and amino acid metabolism significantly impact cancer progression. It also explored therapeutic opportunities targeting EMT and cancer metabolism.