epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process where stationary, organized cells called epithelial cells change their characteristics to become more mobile and flexible, like mesenchymal cells. This transition allows cells to detach from their original tissue, migrate to new areas, and play roles in wound healing, development, and sometimes in disease, such as cancer spread. During EMT, cells lose their tight connections and polarity, gaining abilities for movement and invasion. Understanding EMT helps scientists learn how tissues grow, repair themselves, and how cancer cells spread through the body.