EMT Blockage Strategies: Targeting Akt Dependent Mechanisms for Breast Cancer Metastatic Behaviour Modulation

Title:EMT Blockage Strategies: Targeting Akt Dependent Mechanisms for Breast Cancer Metastatic Behaviour Modulation

Volume: 15 Issue: 3

Author(s): D. Rafael, S. Doktorovova, H.F. Florindo, P. Gener, I. Abasolo, S.Jr. Schwartz and M.A. Videira

Affiliation:

Keywords: Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), E-cadherin, Metastization, , PI3K/AKT2/TWIST, RNAi nterference (RNAi)

Abstract: Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is an event where epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal- like phenotype. EMT can occur as a physiological phenomenon during tissue development and wound healing, but most importantly, EMT can confer highly invasive properties to epithelial carcinoma cells. The impairment of E-cadherin expression, an essential cell-cell adhesion protein, together with an increase in the expression of mesenchymal markers, such as N-cadherin, vimentin, and fibronectin, characterize the EMT process and are usually correlated with tumor migration, and metastization. A wide range of micro-environmental and intracellular factors regulate tumor development and progression. The dynamic cross-talk between the adhesion-related proteins such as E-cadherin and the EMT-related transcription factors, with special focus on TWIST, will be discussed here, with the aim of finding a suitable biological pathway to be used as potential target for cancer therapy. Emerging concepts such as the role of the PI3K/AKT/TWIST pathway in the regulation of the E-cadherin expression will be highlighted, since it seems to be consistently involved in cells EMT. The wellknown efficacy of the RNA interference as a tool to silence the expression of specific proteins has come into focus as a strategy to control different tumor sub-populations. Despite the oligonucleotides enormous sensitivity and low in vivo stability, new (nano)technological solutions are expected to enable RNAi clinical application in cancer therapy.

Cite this article as:

Rafael D., Doktorovova S., Florindo H.F., Gener P., Abasolo I., Schwartz S.Jr. and Videira M.A., EMT Blockage Strategies: Targeting Akt Dependent Mechanisms for Breast Cancer Metastatic Behaviour Modulation, Current Gene Therapy 2015; 15 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566523215666150126123642