Metastatic potential refers to the ability of cancer cells to spread from the primary tumor to distant organs, a process that significantly complicates treatment and worsens prognosis. Understanding and targeting the mechanisms underlying metastasis is crucial for developing effective therapies to prevent cancer progression and improve patient outcomes.
Invasive carcinoma is a type of cancer that has spread beyond the layer of tissue where it initially developed and has the potential to invade nearby tissues and organs. It is characterized by its ability to metastasize, making early detection and treatment crucial for improving patient outcomes.
Kidney development is a complex process involving the formation of functional nephrons from mesenchymal cells through a series of tightly regulated signaling pathways and interactions. It is essential for establishing the body's ability to filter blood, regulate fluid balance, and maintain homeostasis from fetal stages through adulthood.
E-cadherin repression is a critical process in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), where epithelial cells lose their cell-cell adhesion properties and gain migratory and invasive characteristics, often contributing to cancer metastasis. This repression is typically mediated by transcription factors like Snail, Slug, and Twist, which bind to the E-cadherin promoter and inhibit its expression.
Snail family transcriptional repressors are a group of zinc-finger proteins that play a crucial role in regulating gene expression during embryonic development and cancer progression. They are primarily involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process essential for cell migration and invasion.
The mesenchymal phenotype refers to a cellular state characterized by enhanced migratory capacity, invasiveness, elevated resistance to apoptosis, and greatly increased production of extracellular matrix components. This phenotype is crucial in processes like wound healing, fibrosis, and cancer metastasis, often resulting from epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), where epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal traits.
N-cadherin upregulation is a process often associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which plays a crucial role in cancer metastasis and development. This upregulation facilitates increased cell motility and invasiveness by promoting cell-cell adhesion changes and interactions with the extracellular matrix.