EMT-like process in glioblastomas and reactive astrocytes

The concept of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in epithelial cells has accelerated our understanding about cancer spreading. Fortunately, much of this information has been able to be extrapolated to non-epithelial cancers, such as glioblastoma (GBM). Interestingly, reactive astrocytes, which are present in the tumor edge in association with glioma cells, might also undergo EMT-like under stimuli of GBM cells. As result, the positive feedback of reactive astrocytes and glioma cells, could act to promote cancer progression making use of the dynamism of the mesenchymal phenotype. Nonetheless, the interpretation of data regarding EMT-like in GBM and astrocytes requires prudence, mainly because the program of EMT in epithelial tumors may not necessarily be the same as those in gliomas and astrocytes.