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Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition of Lung Cancer Cells

Masahiro Seike, Hideaki Mizutani, Junko Sudoh and Akihiko Gemma

Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Infection Diseases and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process by which cells undergo a morphological switch from the epithelial polarized phenotype to the mesenchymal fibroblastoid phenotype and which can be elicited by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). EMT has been recognized to play pivotal roles in several diverse processes during embryonic development, chronic inflammation and fibrosis, and the progression of solid tumors, including lung cancer. EMT is a crucial event for lung cancer cells to acquire invasive and metastatic phenotypes. These findings suggest that EMT is a potential target for the chemoprevention and treatment of lung cancer.

J Nippon Med Sch 2009; 76: 181-181

Correspondence to
Masahiro Seike, Department of Pulmonary Medicine/Infection and Oncology, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan
mseike@nms.ac.jp