Figure 3.

Autocrine/paracrine growth factor crosstalk during epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Autocrine or paracrine loops of growth factors induce expression and secretion of one another. Ras in the black box represents its oncogenic form that often is required in order to stimulate a robust autocrine crosstalk. The various signaling pathways involved are highlighted in light gray. The integrated signaling network (large gray ellipse) coordinates the action of transcription factors (such as Snail family members), which down‐regulate E‐cadherin among other gene responses in order to establish EMT.