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Metabolic reprogramming and epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition in cancer
Author(s) -
Sciacovelli Marco,
Frezza Christian
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the febs journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1742-4658
pISSN - 1742-464X
DOI - 10.1111/febs.14090
Subject(s) - epithelial–mesenchymal transition , reprogramming , transcription factor , biology , chromatin , metastasis , cancer cell , microbiology and biotechnology , mesenchymal stem cell , cancer , cancer research , bioinformatics , gene , genetics
Several lines of evidence indicate that during transformation epithelial cancer cells can acquire mesenchymal features via a process called epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition ( EMT ). This process endows cancer cells with increased invasive and migratory capacity, enabling tumour dissemination and metastasis. EMT is associated with a complex metabolic reprogramming, orchestrated by EMT transcription factors, which support the energy requirements of increased motility and growth in harsh environmental conditions. The discovery that mutations in metabolic genes such as FH , SDH and IDH activate EMT provided further evidence that EMT and metabolism are intertwined. In this review, we discuss the role of EMT in cancer and the underpinning metabolic reprogramming. We also put forward the hypothesis that, by altering chromatin structure and function, metabolic pathways engaged by EMT are necessary for its full activation.