中文摘要：

上皮间质转化（epithelial-mesenchymal transition,EMT）是指上皮细胞表型由上皮向间质转换的生物学过程,可发生在生理过程中促进发育、组织愈合和修复。近年对肿瘤的研究发现,EMT与肿瘤的发生发展密切相关。肿瘤细胞发生EMT时,伴随着迁移、侵袭能力的增强,进而促进肿瘤的转移。EMT发生的程度以及相关标志分子的检测还可以用于判断肿瘤转移的危险和评估预后。MicroRNA（miRNA）作为非编码小RNA,通过与特定mRNA的3＇UTR结合,在蛋白翻译水平抑制基因表达。本文主要综述目前发现的作用于EMT相关转录因子,如ZEB、SNAIL、TWIST的miRNA,以及在各种肿瘤中的表达情况和作用。其中,有些转录因子和miRNA之间,还存在相互抑制的复杂调节网络,因此,了解miRNA在肿瘤中对EMT的作用可能为肿瘤的治疗提供新的方法和策略。

英文摘要：

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition（EMT） is a biological process of transition from epithelium to mesenchyme during physical development, tissue healing and repair. In recent years, evidences have pointed out that EMT is closely related to the occurrence and development of tumor. When tumor cells undergo EMT, the cells will obtain increased ability of migration and invasion, leading to tumor metastasis. The degree of progression towards EMT and the evaluation of EMT- associated marker molecules can be used to predict the risk of tumor metastasis and the prognosis of patients. MicroRNAs （miRNAs） are non-coding small RNAs which inhibit gene expression through binding with 3＇UTR of specific mRNAs. In this review, we summarize the studies of miRNAs which target transcription factors such as ZEB, SNAIL and TWIST, as well as their expression and functions in EMT in a variety of tumors. Moreover, this review also introduces the complex regulatory network between transcription factors and miRNAs. This review aims to provide further understanding of the roles of miRNAs in EMT during the development and progress of tumor, which may serve as potential strategies for the treatment of tumor.