The Regulation of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Cancer Stem Cells in Tumor Microenvironment
ZHU Xiaohui, WANG Jiajian, TANG Lei, YANG Fan, JING Shenrong, ZHANG Jihong*
Tumor microenvironment is a complex tissue-like structure with extensive phenotypic and functional heterogeneity. Different concentrations of chemokines and cytokines interact with the cells that make up the tumor microenvironment, which can activate signaling pathways related to EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) and control the generation of CSCs (cancer stem cells). Abnormal activation of EMT can promote the plasticity of tumor cells and endow epithelial cells with mesenchymal characteristics, which are closely related to the aggressive characteristics of cancer cells. CSCs are a class of tumorigenic potential cells that can easily adapt to the changes in the microenvironment. Moreover, CSCs possess stronger drug resistance than other cells in the tumor. This article reviews the action mechanisms of EMT and CSC in tumor microenvironment and the research progresses of related signal pathways.
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