Clinical significance of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cells

Abstract

Purpose: Spread of cancer cells from the organ of the origin of them to another location, namely metastasis, is one of the most important factors that complicate the treatment of cancer. Therefore, research for the treatment of metastatic disease is gaining importance, especially for advanced cancers. This research focuses on the mechanisms that facilitate the metastatic tendency of cancer cells. Therefore, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mechanism that helps the cells become metastatic and cancer stem cells (CSCs) present in the heterogeneous tumor mass are in the center of these researches.