Figure 2. Histological features of EMT in cancer and fibrosis.

1. Immunohistochemical staining of a colorectal carcinoma for β-catenin in red and nuclear counterstaining in blue. The central area of the tumour exhibits polarized epithelial tumour cells lacking nuclear β-catenin, while cells at the invasive front undergo EMT and show nuclear β-catenin (Brabletz et al, 2001). Picture from Dr Thomas Brabletz, Univ. Freiburg (Germany).
2. Histological sections showing the halmarks of EMT in the medulla of fibrotic kidney from patients subjected to nephrectomy. Sections are stained with haematoxylin–eosin (H/E) to better appreciate cell morphology and the disappearance of the tubular structures in fibrosis, vimentin expression showing mesenchymal cells (brown, Vim) and fibrotic deposits revealed by the blue Masson–Trichome staining (M/T) (Boutet et al, 2006).