In the tumor invasion process, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) program is activated. This process is characterized by a change in epithelial cell polarization, cytoskeleton modification, intercellular cohesive marker loss, and mesenchymal marker acquisition. Studies have indicated that podoplanin enhances the mobility of embryonic cells and tumor cells, which activate the EMT. This article reviews the mechanism and influence factors of podoplanin in inducing tumor invasion through EMT.
