EMT-Associated Heterogeneity in Circulating Tumor Cells: Sticky Friends on the Road to Metastasis

Anthony Genna (1, 2) , Aline Vanwynsberghe (1, 2) , Amélie Villard (1, 2) , Charles Pottier (1, 2, 3) , Julien Ancel (4, 5) , Myriam Polette (4, 5) , Christine Gilles (1, 2)

1 CHU Sart Tilman - Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sart Tilman
2 Université de Liège
3 CHU-Liège - Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège
4 P3CELL - Pathologies Pulmonaires et Plasticité Cellulaire - UMR-S 1250
5 Hôpital universitaire Robert Debré [Reims]

Epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) generate hybrid phenotypes with an enhanced ability to adapt to diverse microenvironments encountered during the metastatic spread. Accordingly, EMTs play a crucial role in the biology of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and contribute to their heterogeneity. Here, we review major EMT-driven properties that may help hybrid Epithelial/Mesenchymal CTCs to survive in the bloodstream and accomplish early phases of metastatic colonization. We then discuss how interrogating EMT in CTCs as a companion biomarker could help refine cancer patient management, further supporting the relevance of CTCs in personalized medicine.

Mots clés: EMT; CTC; early metastasis; heterogeneity; coagulation

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

Anthony Genna, Aline Vanwynsberghe, Amélie Villard, Charles Pottier, Julien Ancel, et al.. EMT-Associated Heterogeneity in Circulating Tumor Cells: Sticky Friends on the Road to Metastasis. Cancers, 2020, 12 (6), pp.1632. ⟨10.3390/cancers12061632⟩. ⟨hal-03038151⟩