Carcinosarcomas and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)

Abstract

Carcinosarcomas are rare, extremely aggressive malignant neoplasms, combining two cellular epithelial and sarcomatous components. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process that occurs in malignant tumors. Sarcomatous component in carcinosarcomas is derived from the carcinomatous component as a result of metaplasia/transdifferentiation (ЕМТ). We present the pathohistological characteristics and immunohistochemical analysis of four clinicalcarcinosarcoma cases with a different primary localization. Our main goal is to present the classic pathohistological picture of EMT and the role of intermediate filament (IF) proteins in cell and tissue structural integrity, as well as their importance for local invasion and distant hematogenous metastases in carcinosarcomas.