Partial EMT/MET: An army of one

Abstract

As our understanding of Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) increases, the original binary concept of E versus M no longer fits with experimental evidence. Re-definition of the EMT paradigm as spectral transitions between a full epithelium and a full mesenchyme suggests the existence of a virtual infinity of intermediate cellular states. The new challenge is to develop technical tools needed to contextualize each of these states and identify biologically significant cellular mechanisms that could be targeted in combatting EMT-related diseases.