Research progress on the malignant biological behavior of osteosarcoma based on epithelial-mesenchymal transition

doi:10.3760/cma.j.cn371439-20251128-00071

Abstract

Abstract:

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor in adolescents， characterized by strong invasiveness and poor prognosis. Despite continuous advances in diagnostic and therapeutic methods， patient survival rates have not shown significant improvement， making it particularly urgent to deeply elucidate the mechanisms underlying its occurrence and progression. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） is a core biological process driving the malignant progression of osteosarcoma， influencing patient prognosis by promoting tumor cell migration， invasion， and proliferation， inducing cancer stem cell characteristics and chemotherapy resistance. However， the dynamic reversibility of EMT， the intratumoral heterogeneity， and the limitations of current in vitro/in vivo models constrain its clinical translation and application. Nevertheless， in-depth analysis of its regulatory mechanisms and targeted inhibition of EMT through epigenetic modulation， tumor microenvironment intervention， and key signaling pathway blockade in osteosarcoma hold promise for breaking through therapeutic bottlenecks， providing new directions for overcoming tumor metastasis and drug resistance， and ultimately improving patient prognosis.

Key words: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition, Osteosarcoma, Tumor microenvironment, Neoplasm metastasis, Drug tolerance

Zhang Tiantao, Xu Shihong, Wang Peixin, Wang Xiaoqiang, Li Kai, Zhao Jun. Research progress on the malignant biological behavior of osteosarcoma based on epithelial-mesenchymal transition[J]. Journal of International Oncology, 2026, 53(7): 439-444.

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