Figure 1.

Scheme of EMT (epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition) as a program with dynamic transitional states, which are characterized by metastable intermediates. For metastatic colonization, a reversal of EMT known as mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) supports tumor cell expansion as an important prerequisite for metastatic growth. Phenotypic hallmarks of EMT are loss of cell-cell junctions, loss of apical-basal polarity, and acquisition of migratory and invasive properties. Those changes are induced by loss of E-cadherin and increased levels of biomarkers like vimentin and fibronectin. EMT-TF: EMT-transcription factor.