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01-11-2016 | Review Article

Regulation of epithelial–mesenchymal transition in endometrial cancer: connecting PI3K, estrogen signaling, and microRNAs

Authors: C. N. Kent, I. K. Guttilla Reed

Published in: Clinical and Translational Oncology | Issue 11/2016

Abstract

Endometrial cancer (EC) prognosis is dependent on many factors such as time of diagnosis, histological type, and degree of invasion. Type I EC has a more favorable prognosis as it is less prone to myometrial invasion, which is believed to be the first step in the metastatic cascade. Type II EC displays a more aggressive and motile phenotype, and therefore has a poorer prognosis. Recent work suggests that despite the epithelial nature of Type I and Type II endometrial tumors, both are capable of undergoing an epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), which may facilitate myometrial invasion and metastasis. Activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway has been shown to contribute to EMT through the upregulation of EMT-associated factors. Recent research has also linked estrogen signaling and microRNAs to the regulatory mechanisms that drive EMT in EC. Understanding the intricate relationships between these pathways will provide a better understanding of metastatic progression in EC.

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Title: Regulation of epithelial–mesenchymal transition in endometrial cancer: connecting PI3K, estrogen signaling, and microRNAs
Authors: C. N. Kent
I. K. Guttilla Reed
Publication date: 01-11-2016
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Published in: Clinical and Translational Oncology / Issue 11/2016
Print ISSN: 1699-048X
Electronic ISSN: 1699-3055
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-016-1492-2

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