Epithelial-mesenchymal transition and H2O2 signaling - a driver of disease progression and a vulnerability in cancers

Mutation-selective drugs constitute a great advancement in personalized anticancer treatment with increased quality of life and overall survival in cancers. However, the high adaptability and evasiveness of cancers can lead to disease progression and the development of drug resistance, which cause recurrence and metastasis. A common characteristic in advanced neoplastic cancers is the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) which is strongly interconnected with H2O2 signaling, increased motility and invasiveness. H2O2 relays its signal through the installation of oxidative posttranslational modifications on cysteines. The increased H2O2 levels that are associated with an EMT confer a heightened sensitivity towards the induction of ferroptosis as a recently discovered vulnerability.

Automated summary

Mutation-selective drugs have made great progress in personalized anticancer treatment, but cancer's adaptability and evasiveness can lead to drug resistance and disease progression. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is closely linked to H2O2 signaling, increased motility, and invasiveness. Enhanced H2O2 levels associated with EMT make cells more sensitive to ferroptosis induction.