Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial process with significance in the metastasis of malignant tumors. It is through the acquisition of plasticity that cancer cells become more mobile and gain the ability to metastasize to other tissues. The mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) is the return to an epithelial state, which allows for the formation of secondary tumors. Both processes, EMT and MET, are regulated by different pathways and different mediators, which affects the sophistication of the overall tumorigenesis process. Not insignificant are also cancer stem cells and their participation in the angiogenesis, which occur very intensively within tumors. Difficulties in effectively treating cancer are primarily dependent on the potential of cancer cells to rapidly expand and occupy secondarily vital organs. Due to the ability of these cells to spread, the concept of the circulating tumor cell (CTC) has emerged. Interestingly, CTCs exhibit molecular diversity and stem-like and mesenchymal features, even when derived from primary tumor tissue from a single patient. While EMT is necessary for metastasis, MET is required for CTCs to establish a secondary site. A thorough understanding of the processes that govern the balance between EMT and MET in malignancy is crucial.

Atherosclerosis Research Center Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences Ahvaz Iran

Department of Basic and Preclinical Sciences Institute of Veterinary Medicine Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun Torun Poland

Department of Diagnostics and Clinical Sciences Institute of Veterinary Medicine Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun Torun Poland

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology School of Medicine Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences Ahvaz Iran

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University Hospital and Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic

Department of Physiotherapy Wroclaw University School of Physical Education Wroclaw Poland

Department of Toxicology Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznan Poland

Department of Veterinary Surgery Institute of Veterinary Medicine Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun Torun Poland

Division of Anatomy and Histology University of Zielona Góra Zielona Góra Poland

Division of Anatomy Department of Human Morphology and Embryology Wroclaw Medical University Wroclaw Poland

Division of Histology and Embryology Department of Human Morphology and Embryology Wroclaw Medical University Wroclaw Poland

Fertility Infertility and Perinatology Research Center Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences Ahvaz Iran

Hematology and Oncology Research Center Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Tabriz Iran

Physiology Graduate Faculty North Carolina State University Raleigh NC USA

Prestage Department of Poultry Science North Carolina State University Raleigh NC USA

Veterinary Clinic of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun Torun Poland

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