Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Management: Opportunities and Challenges

Lung cancer, the leading cause of death worldwide, is associated with the highest morbidity. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80–85% of lung cancer cases. Advances in the domain of cancer treatment have improved the prognosis and quality of life of patients with metastatic NSCLC. Neve...

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Main Authors: Yunyao Ye, Shanxun Yu, Ting Guo, Sihui Zhang, Xiaozhou Shen, Gaohua Han
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Biomolecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/12/1523
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author Yunyao Ye
Shanxun Yu
Ting Guo
Sihui Zhang
Xiaozhou Shen
Gaohua Han
author_facet Yunyao Ye
Shanxun Yu
Ting Guo
Sihui Zhang
Xiaozhou Shen
Gaohua Han
author_sort Yunyao Ye
collection DOAJ
description Lung cancer, the leading cause of death worldwide, is associated with the highest morbidity. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80–85% of lung cancer cases. Advances in the domain of cancer treatment have improved the prognosis and quality of life of patients with metastatic NSCLC. Nevertheless, tumor progression or metastasis owing to treatment failure caused by primary or secondary drug resistance remains the cause of death in the majority of cases. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), a vital biological process wherein epithelial cancer cells lose their inherent adhesion and transform into more invasive mesenchymal-like cells, acts as a powerful engine driving tumor metastasis. EMT can also induce immunosuppression in the tumor environment, thereby promoting cancer development and poor prognosis among patients with NSCLC. This review aims to elucidate the effect of EMT on metastasis and the tumor immune microenvironment. Furthermore, it explores the possible roles of EMT inhibition in improving the treatment efficacy of NSCLC. Targeting EMT may be an ideal mechanism to inhibit tumor growth and progression at multiple steps.
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series Biomolecules
spelling doaj-art-42ef29a1f8e8489689ceabc1efbab2de2025-08-20T02:55:31ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2024-11-011412152310.3390/biom14121523Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Management: Opportunities and ChallengesYunyao Ye0Shanxun Yu1Ting Guo2Sihui Zhang3Xiaozhou Shen4Gaohua Han5Department of Oncology, Taizhou People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Taizhou People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, ChinaCentral Lab, Taizhou People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Taizhou People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Taizhou People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Taizhou People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, ChinaLung cancer, the leading cause of death worldwide, is associated with the highest morbidity. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80–85% of lung cancer cases. Advances in the domain of cancer treatment have improved the prognosis and quality of life of patients with metastatic NSCLC. Nevertheless, tumor progression or metastasis owing to treatment failure caused by primary or secondary drug resistance remains the cause of death in the majority of cases. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), a vital biological process wherein epithelial cancer cells lose their inherent adhesion and transform into more invasive mesenchymal-like cells, acts as a powerful engine driving tumor metastasis. EMT can also induce immunosuppression in the tumor environment, thereby promoting cancer development and poor prognosis among patients with NSCLC. This review aims to elucidate the effect of EMT on metastasis and the tumor immune microenvironment. Furthermore, it explores the possible roles of EMT inhibition in improving the treatment efficacy of NSCLC. Targeting EMT may be an ideal mechanism to inhibit tumor growth and progression at multiple steps.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/12/1523epithelial–mesenchymal transitionmetastasistumor immune microenvironmentnon-small cell lung cancerimmune checkpoint inhibitor
spellingShingle Yunyao Ye
Shanxun Yu
Ting Guo
Sihui Zhang
Xiaozhou Shen
Gaohua Han
Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Management: Opportunities and Challenges
Biomolecules
epithelial–mesenchymal transition
metastasis
tumor immune microenvironment
non-small cell lung cancer
immune checkpoint inhibitor
title Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Management: Opportunities and Challenges
title_full Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Management: Opportunities and Challenges
title_fullStr Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Management: Opportunities and Challenges
title_full_unstemmed Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Management: Opportunities and Challenges
title_short Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Management: Opportunities and Challenges
title_sort epithelial mesenchymal transition in non small cell lung cancer management opportunities and challenges
topic epithelial–mesenchymal transition
metastasis
tumor immune microenvironment
non-small cell lung cancer
immune checkpoint inhibitor
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/12/1523
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AT tingguo epithelialmesenchymaltransitioninnonsmallcelllungcancermanagementopportunitiesandchallenges
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