ΔNp63α and microRNAs: leveraging the epithelial-mesenchymal transition

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular reprogramming mechanism that is an underlying cause of cancer metastasis. Recent investigations have uncovered an intricate network of regulation involving the TGFβ, Wnt, and Notch signaling pathways and small regulatory RNA species called microRNAs (miRNAs). The activity of a transcription factor vital to the maintenance of epithelial stemness, ΔNp63α, has been shown to modulate the activity of these EMT pathways to either repress or promote EMT. Furthermore, ΔNp63α is a known regulator of miRNA, including those directly involved in EMT. This review discusses the evidence of ΔNp63α as a master regulator of EMT components and miRNA, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of its role in EMT. This expanded knowledge may provide a basis for new developments in the diagnosis and treatment of metastatic cancer.