Design of an In Vitro Model for Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Gastric Cancer

Biochem Genet. 2024 Mar 20. doi: 10.1007/s10528-024-10668-x. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a developmental program that plays a vital role in gastric cancer, including aspects of tumor progression, the metastatic process, and resistance to treatment. Here, we have designed an in vitro model that mimics the features of EMT as observed in gastric cancer. The results showed that both migration and invasion were enhanced in gastric cancer cells with Brachyury overexpression. Additionally, the expression of IL-8 increased, while IL-8RA and IL-8RB levels significantly decreased in the in vitro model. Overall, the in vitro model offers an opportunity to study these phenomena relevant to EMT as they may occur in vivo in gastric cancer, as well as potential drug interactions that could interfere with these processes.

Keywords: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; Gastric cancer; IL-8; In vitro model; Metastasis.