Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), an important developmental process, is believed to play a pivotal role in the metastatic dissemination of epithelial tumor cells. The mechanisms that regulate EMT and the functional consequences of EMT in development and carcinogenesis are being actively investigated. This symposium highlights recent advances in the origin, regulation and consequences of EMT with regards to human cancers.
Symposium: Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transitions in Cancer

Snail regulation and EMT; Greg D. Longmore. Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO

Pathways regulating basement membrane transmigration in EMT; Stephen J. Weiss. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Inactivation of failsafe programs by twist oncoproteins in EMT; Alain Puisieux. Centre Léon-Bérard, Lyon, France

De Novo epigenetic remodeling and EMT in epithelial cells; Thea D. Tlsty. UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA,