The Bennett Family Distinguished Lecture Series 2010

Dr. Robert A. weinberg

EMT, Metastasis and Cancer stem cells

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has traditionally been studied in the context of embryonic morphogenesis and cancer cell invasiveness. However, recently the product of forcing an epithelial cell -- normal or neoplastic -- through an EMT has been found to be an epithelial stem cell with mesenchymal properties. This holds multiple implications for understanding the biology of malignant progression.

In addition, it allows the preparation of large numbers of cancer stem cells that can be used, in high throughput screens, to identify agents that could be used to eliminate this subpopulation of cells from carcinomas under treatment. The implications of these dynamics will be explored.