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Is the biology of primary tumors different from epithelial-mesenchymal transition biology?

In cancer biology, we often study primary tumor growth and EMT-driven metastasis as related but separate phenomena. From a therapeutic targeting perspective, is it more accurate to view them as different biological states with different core vulnerabilities, or as a continuum of the same disease process?

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By Suresh Answered 3 years ago

In my work, I have seen they represent critically different biological phases with overlapping but distinct rules. Primary tumor biology is largely governed by proliferative signaling and avoiding local immune destruction. EMT, however, is a stress-responsive plasticity program it's less about proliferation and more about motility, survival in circulation, and adaptability. While a continuum, the vulnerabilities differ. A therapy targeting rapid division might hit the primary tumor but miss the dormant, mesenchymal disseminated cell. This is why targeting the plasticity process itself is now a major therapeutic frontier.

 

   

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