Dear Li,

Transcription factors (TFs) connected with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) can have a substantive role in osteosarcoma. Evidence suggests that overexpression of EMT-TFs is associated with the complex pathogenesis of osteosarcoma, and that EMT also applies to mesenchymal-derived osteosarcoma.

Dear Chithan

I can't understand it .

I think the osteosarcoma cells don't have the characteristics of epithelial cell since they are intrinsic mesenchymal-derived cells.

Such EMT factors can influence osteosarcoma tumorgenesis indeed, but it doesn't mean such cancer type can undergo EMT process.

Are there any evidences that support the EMT theory in the osteosarcoma??And how to  trace the osteosarcoma cells epithelial to mesenchymal transition process since they had been already mesenchymal cells.

Dear Li,

You may want to peruse the following:

1. "The results of the present study support the concept that EMT also applies to mesenchymal-derived osteosarcoma..."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3861599/

2. TIM-3 expression in human osteosarcoma: Correlation with the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-specific biomarkers.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3789023/

3. Overexpression of MicroRNA-132  inhibited cell proliferation, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of osteosarcoma cells.

http://www.spandidos-publications.com/ijo/47/5/1672                                 

I'd say that OsteoSarcome tends to produce distant metastasis by the hematic or blood-borne way, and in this way of spread, intravasation, that is part of the EMT process, has a role.

• Then by the same logic, Mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) in carcinomas should not occur, since carcinoma cell originate from epithelium.                                                                                                             Mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) in carcinomas has been proposed to promote the growth of epithelial tumor cells at distant sites during metastasis.                                                                                           http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2013.11.006                                                        
• EMT plasticity not absent, since Some bone sarcomas are also reported to frequently express epithelial markers.                                                                         "Mesenchymal to epithelial transition in sarcomas" doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2013.11.006  
• MET in osteosarcoma has been suggested by expression of the epithelial marker cadherin-11 (CDH11) and autocrine motility factor/phosphoglucose isomerase (AMF/PGI) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20978190                   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18359978

I think that EMT/ MET is bidirectional process by acquisition or loss of some properties of the cell like stemness