Generation of Breast Cancer Stem Cells through Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Anne‐Pierre Morel(Centre Léon Bérard), Marjory Lièvre(Centre Léon Bérard), Clémence Thomas(Inserm), George Hinkal(Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon), Stéphane Ansieau(Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon), Alain Puisieux(Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon)
PLoS ONE
August 5, 2008
10.1371/journal.pone.0002888
Cited by 1,618Open Access
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Abstract

Recently, two novel concepts have emerged in cancer biology: the role of so-called "cancer stem cells" in tumor initiation, and the involvement of an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the metastatic dissemination of epithelial cancer cells. Using a mammary tumor progression model, we show that cells possessing both stem and tumorigenic characteristics of "cancer stem cells" can be derived from human mammary epithelial cells following the activation of the Ras-MAPK pathway. The acquisition of these stem and tumorigenic characters is driven by EMT induction.

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