Significance of Rb pathway in the epithelial to mesenchymal transition inducing cancer invasion and metastasis

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Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is characterized by the loss of epithelial features and the acquisition of a mesenchymal phenotype. The EMT is considered as critical physiological processes in metazoan embryogenesis and wound healing. In carcinoma cells, EMT can be associated with increased aggressiveness, and invasive and metastatic potential. Therefore, suppression of EMT and mesenchymal phenotype can be a new therapeutic approach for cancers. We found that inactivation of a tumor suppressor Rb plays a crucial role in induction of EMT phenotype which is associated with aggressiveness of breast cancer cells.