ABSTRACT
362Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process that occurs during the early (fibrosis) and late (metastasis) stages of carcinogenesis. On the other hand, EMT is a well-known physiological multistep phenomenon that leads to embryonic development and tissue repair. It is defined as the loss of epithelial characteristics such as cell adherent junctions, cell polarity and the gain of mesenchymal properties, thereby conferring to cells the ability to modify extracellular matrix, to become resistant to apoptosis, to migrate, and finally to invade the adjacent tissues. During the two last decades, many environmental xenobiotics were found to mimic endogenous signals (hormones, cytokines, etc.) leading to the activation of EMT. Thanks to the use of EMT biomarkers as predictive tool, it is now possible to identify in the same time the teratogenic and pro-tumoral effects of food contaminants.
