Measuring and Modelling the Epithelial- Mesenchymal Hybrid State in Cancer: Clinical Implications

Mohit Kumar Jolly; Ryan J Murphy; Sugandha Bhatia; Holly J Whitfield; Andrew Redfern; Melissa J Davis; Erik W Thompson

doi:10.1159/000515289

Measuring and Modelling the Epithelial- Mesenchymal Hybrid State in Cancer: Clinical Implications

Cells Tissues Organs. 2022;211(2):110-133. doi: 10.1159/000515289. Epub 2021 Apr 26.

Authors

Mohit Kumar Jolly¹, Ryan J Murphy², Sugandha Bhatia^{3

4

5}, Holly J Whitfield^{6

7}, Andrew Redfern⁸, Melissa J Davis^{6

7

9}, Erik W Thompson^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
² Queensland University of Technology, School of Mathematical Sciences, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
³ Queensland University of Technology, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Biomedical Sciences, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁴ Queensland University of Technology, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁵ The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁶ Bioinformatics Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
⁷ Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
⁸ Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Fiona Stanley Hospital Campus, Perth, Washington, Australia.
⁹ Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

PMID: 33902034
DOI: 10.1159/000515289

Abstract

The epithelial-mesenchymal (E/M) hybrid state has emerged as an important mediator of elements of cancer progression, facilitated by epithelial mesenchymal plasticity (EMP). We review here evidence for the presence, prognostic significance, and therapeutic potential of the E/M hybrid state in carcinoma. We further assess modelling predictions and validation studies to demonstrate stabilised E/M hybrid states along the spectrum of EMP, as well as computational approaches for characterising and quantifying EMP phenotypes, with particular attention to the emerging realm of single-cell approaches through RNA sequencing and protein-based techniques.

Keywords: Cancer; Computational biology; Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity; Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Mesenchymal- epithelial transition; E/M hybrid; Molecular modelling; Partial epithelial- mesenchymal plasticity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition* / genetics
Humans
Neoplasms* / genetics
Neoplasms* / pathology