Targeting Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Radioresistance: Crosslinked Mechanisms and Strategies

Radiotherapy exerts a crucial role in curing cancer, however, its treatment efficiency is mostly limited due to the presence of radioresistance. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process that endows the cancer cells with invasive and metastatic properties, as well as radioresistance. Many potential mechanisms of EMT-related radioresistance being reported have broaden our cognition, and hint us the importance of an overall understanding of the relationship between EMT and radioresistance. This review focuses on the recent progresses involved in EMT-related mechanisms in regulating radioresistance, irradiation-mediated EMT program, and the intervention strategies to increase tumor radiosensitivity, in order to improve radiotherapy efficiency and clinical outcomes of cancer patients.

Automated summary

Radiotherapy plays a crucial role in cancer treatment, but its effectiveness is often limited by radioresistance. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a biological process that gives cancer cells invasive and metastatic properties, as well as radioresistance, has been found to be closely related. Understanding the relationship between EMT and radioresistance is important for improving the efficiency of radiotherapy.