Targeting epithelial-mesenchymal transition - an ongoing wild goose chase

Abstract

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a natural phenomenon thatoccurs during embryodevelopment. It is a phenomenon involving the transition of adherence-dependent stationary epithelial cells to adherence-independent migratory mesenchymal cells. Tumours reactivate this machinery and evade anti-tumour immunity and inhibition by cancer-specific drugs. EMT harnesses complex crosstalk among cancer cell signalling pathways that make it difficult to tackle therapeutically, and it plays a pivotal role in cancer metastasis. Most screening platforms and approved drugs are limited by their applicability to epithelial cancers. There is a significant need for developing new strategies targeting metastatic cancers. Here, we review the challenges with the current methods of screening and available drugs for EMT and shed some light on the key essentials needed for next-generation drug discovery attempts.

Keywords

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition / high-throughput screening / drug discovery / drug resistance / tumorspheres / organoids

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