The process of malignancy emergence is associated with the acquisition of the capacity to invade other tissues. Several different biological processes have been described as involved in this process. Specifically, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), a mechanism associated with embryogenesis and wound repair but also with mobility acquisition, is one of the concerned processes. In EMT an epithelial cell loses its epithelial characteristics, its junctions with neighbor cells and with the basal lamina and acquires mobility and mesenchymal characteristics. Also, factors of the tumor microenvironment have been described as involved. Tumor presence triggers a response in the surrounding tissue known as reactive stromal. It shows particular characteristics... |