Abstract
Master regulators of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition such as Twist1 and Snail1 have been implicated in invasiveness and the generation of cancer stem cells, but their persistent activity inhibits stem-cell-like properties and the outgrowth of disseminated cancer cells into macroscopic metastases. Here, we show that Twist1 activation primes a subset of mammary epithelial cells for stem-cell-like properties, which only emerge and stably persist following Twist1 deactivation. Consequently, when cells undergo a mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), they do not return to their original epithelial cell state, evidenced by acquisition of invasive growth behavior and a distinct gene expression profile. These data provide an explanation for how transient Twist1 activation may promote all steps of the metastatic cascade;i.e.,invasion, dissemination, and metastatic outgrowth at distant sites.
Item Type: | Journal article |
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Faculties: | Medicine > Institute for Immunology |
Subjects: | 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health |
URN: | urn:nbn:de:bvb:19-epub-34469-3 |
ISSN: | 2211-1247 |
Language: | English |
Item ID: | 34469 |
Date Deposited: | 15. Feb 2017 16:04 |
Last Modified: | 04. Nov 2020 13:12 |