{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,11,6]],"date-time":"2026-11-06T23:19:47Z","timestamp":1794007187045,"version":"4.8.0"},"reference-count":178,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"19","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,27]],"date-time":"2025-09-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1758931200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Federal University of Uberl\u00e2ndia","award":["23117.048078\/2020-55"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["23117.048078\/2020-55"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.mdpi.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Cellular plasticity enables cells to dynamically adapt their phenotype in response to environmental cues, a process central to development, tissue repair, and disease. Among the most studied plasticity programs is epithelial\u2013mesenchymal transition (EMT), a transcriptionally controlled process by which epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal traits. Originally described in embryogenesis, EMT is now recognized as a key driver in both tumor progression and fibrotic remodeling. In cancer, EMT and hybrid epithelial\/mesenchymal (E\/M) states promote invasion, metastasis, stemness, therapy resistance, and immune evasion. In fibrotic diseases, partial EMT (pEMT) contributes to fibroblast activation and excessive extracellular matrix deposition, sustaining organ dysfunction mainly in the kidney, liver, lung, and heart. This review integrates recent findings on the molecular regulation of EMT, including signaling pathways (TGF-\u03b2, WNT, NOTCH, HIPPO), transcription factors (SNAIL, ZEB, TWIST), and regulatory layers involving microRNAs and epigenetic modifications. Moreover, we discuss the emergence of pEMT states as drivers of phenotypic plasticity, functional heterogeneity, and poor prognosis. By comparing EMT in cancer and fibrosis, we reveal shared mechanisms and disease-specific features, emphasizing the translational relevance of targeting EMT plasticity. Finally, we explore how cutting-edge technologies, such as single-cell transcriptomics and lineage tracing, are reshaping our understanding of EMT across pathological contexts.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms26199476","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,30]],"date-time":"2025-09-30T15:38:55Z","timestamp":1759246735000},"page":"9476","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":23,"title":["Shared and Context-Specific Mechanisms of EMT and Cellular Plasticity in Cancer and Fibrotic Diseases"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"26","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1953-6318","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Victor Alexandre F.","family":"Bastos","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Experimental Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberl\u00e2ndia, Uberl\u00e2ndia 38402-022, MG, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aline Gomes de","family":"Souza","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Imaging, Hematology, and Oncology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14040-900, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Virginia C. Silvestrini","family":"Guedes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Imaging, Hematology, and Oncology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14040-900, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2707-757X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Th\u00falio M.","family":"Cunha","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberl\u00e2ndia, Uberl\u00e2ndia 38402-022, MG, Brazil"},{"name":"School of Medicine, Federal University of Uberl\u00e2ndia, Uberl\u00e2ndia 38402-022, MG, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cammareri, P., and Myant, K.B. (2023). 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