ASK-ing EMT not to spread cancer

摘要

Global communication by the epithelial cell layer is maintained through gap junctional complexes, separated from adjacent tissues by a basal lamina. Mes-enchymal cells are loosely organized in a three-dimensional extracellular matrix, comprising connective tissue adjacent to the stroma. Conversion of epithelial cells to mesenhymal cells involves profound phenotypic changes, including loss of cell-cell adhesion, loss of cell polarity, and the acquisition of migratory and invasive properties (1).