Generation of Breast Cancer Stem Cells Through Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2008 Aug 7

PMID 18682804

Citations 880

Authors

Anne-Pierre Morel

Marjory Lievre

Clemence Thomas

George Hinkal

Stephane Ansieau

Alain Puisieux

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Recently, two novel concepts have emerged in cancer biology: the role of so-called "cancer stem cells" in tumor initiation, and the involvement of an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the metastatic dissemination of epithelial cancer cells. Using a mammary tumor progression model, we show that cells possessing both stem and tumorigenic characteristics of "cancer stem cells" can be derived from human mammary epithelial cells following the activation of the Ras-MAPK pathway. The acquisition of these stem and tumorigenic characters is driven by EMT induction.

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