E-Cadherin loss associated with EMT promotes radioresistance in human tumor cells.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Hypoxia is a hallmark of solid cancers and associated with metastases and treatment failure. During tumor progression epithelial cells often acquire mesenchymal features, a phenomenon known as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Intratumoral hypoxia has been linked to EMT induction. We hypothesized that signals from the tumor microenvironment such as growth factors and tumor oxygenation collaborate to promote EMT and thereby contribute to radioresistance.

Materials and methods

Gene expression changes under hypoxia were analyzed using microarray and validated by qRT-PCR. Conversion of epithelial phenotype upon hypoxic exposure, TGFβ addition or oncogene activation was investigated by Western blot and immunofluorescence. Cell survival following i

SUBMITTER: Theys J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4948667 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature