Research progress in acquired resistance of EGFR-TKIs associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition in non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Currently, the mechanisms of resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been a research hotspot.And the drugs which aim to reverse EGFR-TKIs resistance have been used in clinic.However, some patients who responded well to EGFR-TKIs at first developed drug resistance finally, so more mechanisms of resistance to EGFR-TKIs need to be lucubrated.The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process which can induce the migration and invasion in tumor cells and enhance the tumor progression, and is related with acquired resistance of EGFR-TKIs in NSCLC.Thus, this paper reviews the mechanism of EMT as well as the relationship of EMT and acquired resistance of EGFR-TKIs in NSCLC. Key words: Non-small cell lung cancer; Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors; Acquired resistance; Epithelial to mesenchymal transition