Epithelial-to-mesenchymal-like transition events in melanoma

Dennis Pedri; Panagiotis Karras; Ewout Landeloos; Jean-Christophe Marine; Florian Rambow

doi:10.1111/febs.16021

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal-like transition events in melanoma

FEBS J. 2022 Mar;289(5):1352-1368. doi: 10.1111/febs.16021. Epub 2021 May 30.

Authors

Dennis Pedri^{1

2

3}, Panagiotis Karras^{1

2}, Ewout Landeloos^{1

2}, Jean-Christophe Marine^{1

2}, Florian Rambow^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.
² Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Belgium.
³ Laboratory of Membrane Trafficking, Center for Brain and Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.

PMID: 33999497
DOI: 10.1111/febs.16021

Abstract

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process through which epithelial tumor cells acquire mesenchymal phenotypic properties, contributes to both metastatic dissemination and therapy resistance in cancer. Accumulating evidence indicates that nonepithelial tumors, including melanoma, can also gain mesenchymal-like properties that increase their metastatic propensity and decrease their sensitivity to therapy. In this review, we discuss recent findings, illustrating the striking similarities-but also knowledge gaps-between the biology of mesenchymal-like state(s) in melanoma and mesenchymal state(s) from epithelial cancers. Based on this comparative analysis, we suggest hypothesis-driven experimental approaches to further deepen our understanding of the EMT-like process in melanoma and how such investigations may pave the way towards the identification of clinically relevant biomarkers for prognosis and new therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: EMT; melanoma; phenotype switching.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
Cell Differentiation / drug effects
Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics
Epithelial Cells / drug effects
Epithelial Cells / metabolism
Epithelial Cells / pathology
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / drug effects
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / genetics*
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
Humans
Melanoma / drug therapy
Melanoma / genetics*
Melanoma / metabolism
Melanoma / pathology
Mesenchymal Stem Cells / drug effects
Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism
Mesenchymal Stem Cells / pathology
Molecular Targeted Therapy / methods
Neoplasm Metastasis
Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects
Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy
Skin Neoplasms / genetics*
Skin Neoplasms / metabolism
Skin Neoplasms / pathology
Transcription Factors / genetics*
Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

Antineoplastic Agents
Biomarkers, Tumor
Neoplasm Proteins
Transcription Factors