Background: The epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process in which epithelial cells lose their polarity and adhesion characteristics, and adopt a mesenchymal phenotype. While the EMT naturally occurs during tissue fibrosis, wound healing, and embryonic development, it can be exploited by cancer cells and is strongly associated with cancer stem cell formation, tissue invasiveness, apoptosis, and therapy resistance. Transcription factors (TFs) such as SNAIL, ZEB, and TWIST play a pivotal role in driving the EMT. This systematic review aims to assess the impact of EMT-TFs on hematological malignancy and solid tumors. Methods: English-language literature published between 2010 and 2024 was systematically reviewed, utilizing databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar. Results: A total of 3250 studies were extracted. Of these, 92 publications meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed to elucidate the role of EMT-TFs in cancer. The results demonstrated that the EMT-TFs play a critical role in both hematological and solid tumor development and progression. They promote invasive, migratory, and metastatic properties in these tumors, and contribute to therapeutic challenges by enhancing chemoresistance. A strong correlation between EMT-TFs and poor overall survival has been identified. Conclusions: Our research concluded that EMT-TFs may serve as important predictive and prognostic factors, as well as potential therapeutic targets to mitigate cancer progression.
背景：上皮间质转化（EMT）是一种生物学过程，在此过程中上皮细胞丧失极性与粘附特性，获得间质表型。虽然EMT在组织纤维化、伤口愈合和胚胎发育过程中自然发生，但可被癌细胞利用，并与肿瘤干细胞形成、组织侵袭性、细胞凋亡及治疗抵抗密切相关。SNAIL、ZEB和TWIST等转录因子在驱动EMT过程中发挥关键作用。本系统综述旨在评估EMT相关转录因子对血液系统恶性肿瘤及实体肿瘤的影响。方法：通过PubMed和Google Scholar等数据库，系统检索2010年至2024年间发表的英文文献。结果：共提取3250项研究，其中92篇符合纳入标准的文献被纳入分析，以阐明EMT相关转录因子在肿瘤中的作用。研究结果表明，EMT相关转录因子在血液肿瘤和实体肿瘤的发生发展中均起关键作用，能增强肿瘤的侵袭、迁移和转移能力，并通过促进化疗耐药性增加治疗难度。研究已明确发现EMT相关转录因子与患者不良总生存期存在显著相关性。结论：本研究证实EMT相关转录因子可作为重要的预测与预后指标，并有望成为抑制肿瘤进展的潜在治疗靶点。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家