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Abstract
The acquisition of resistance and ultimately disease relapse after initial response to chemotherapy put obstacles in the way of cancer therapy. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biologic process that epithelial cells alter to mesenchymal cells and acquire fibroblast-like properties. EMT plays a significant role in cancer metastasis, motility, and survival. Recently, emerging evidence suggested that EMT pathways are very important in making drug-resistant involved in cancer. Natural products are gradually emerging as a valuable source of safe and effective anticancer compounds. Natural products could interfere with the different processes implicated in cancer drug resistance by reversing the EMT process. In this review, we illustrate the molecular mechanisms of EMT in the emergence of cancer metastasis. We then present the role of natural compounds in the suppression of EMT pathways in different cancers to overcome cancer cell drug resistance and improve tumor chemotherapy.
Drug-resistance is one of the obstacles to cancer treatment.
EMT signaling pathways have been correlated to tumor invasion, metastasis, and drug-resistance.
Various studies on the relationship between EMT and resistance to chemotherapy agents were reviewed.
Different anticancer natural products with EMT inhibitory properties and drug resistance reversal effects were compared.
Highlights
Acknowledgments
This study was supported by the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Authors’ contributions
A. D. Gh. wrote the manuscript and designed the figure. A. B., H. A., Z. A. co-wrote the paper. F. M. and K. J. conceived the original idea and supervised the project. All authors contributed to the final manuscript.
Disclosure statement
Regarding the publication of this article, the authors have no real or potential conflict of interests.
Funding
The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.