The Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transition (MET) as a Novel Target for Treatment of Disseminated (Metastatic) Prostate Cancer

Bruce Zetter, PhD 
Professor of Cancer Biology, Department of Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a programmed loss of cell adhesion accompanied by increased cell motility that is thought to be essential for tumor metastasis. However, this process is reversed (mesenchymal to epithelial transition–MET) over time in prostate cancer when disease is widely metastatic, making it adhesive once again. An animal model of prostate cancer MET will be used to obtain a genetic signature of this process. Methods will be established to block MET, which likely represents a lethal form of progressive prostate cancer.

Potential patient benefit: This work will lead to an understanding of mechanisms of metastasis for which new drugs can be designed to inhibit this lethal process.