Collective–amoeboid transition explained

The collective–amoeboid transition (CMT) is a process by which collective multicellular groups dissociate into amoeboid single cells following the down-regulation of integrins.^{[1] [2] [3]} CMTs contrast with epithelial–mesenchymal transitions (EMT) which occur following a loss of E-cadherin. Like EMTs, CATs are involved in the invasion of tumor cells into surrounding tissues, with amoeboid movement more likely to occur in soft extracellular matrix (ECM) and mesenchymal movement in stiff ECM. Although once differentiated, cells typically do not change their migration mode, EMTs and CMTs are highly plastic with cells capable of interconverting between them depending on intracelluar regulatory signals and the surrounding ECM.^{[2] [1]}

CATs are the least common transition type in invading tumor cells, although they are noted in melanoma explants.^{[4] [2]}

See also

• Collective cell migration
• Dedifferentiation
• Invasion (cancer)

Notes and References

1. Krakhmal . N. V. . Zavyalova . M. V. . Denisov . E. V. . Vtorushin . S. V. . Perelmuter . V. M. . Cancer Invasion: Patterns and Mechanisms . Acta Naturae . 2015 . 7 . 2 . 17–28 . 10.32607/20758251-2015-7-2-17-28 . 26085941 . 4463409 . 2075-8251.
2. Friedl . Peter . Prespecification and plasticity: shifting mechanisms of cell migration . Current Opinion in Cell Biology . February 2004 . 16 . 1 . 14–23 . 10.1016/j.ceb.2003.11.001 . 15037300 . 18 September 2023.
3. Wolf . Katarina . Friedl . Peter . Molecular mechanisms of cancer cell invasion and plasticity: Mechanisms of tumour cell invasion, plasticity, metastasis . British Journal of Dermatology . May 2006 . 154 . 11–15 . 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2006.07231.x . 16712711 . 46262413 . 18 September 2023 . en.
4. Gandalovičová . Aneta . Vomastek . Tomáš . Rosel . Daniel . Brábek . Jan . Cell polarity signaling in the plasticity of cancer cell invasiveness . Oncotarget . 8 February 2016 . 7 . 18 . 25022–25049 . 10.18632/oncotarget.7214 . 26872368 . 5041887 . 18 September 2023 . en . 1949-2553.