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Development and validation of a high-throughput screening pipeline of compound libraries to target EMT

Sven Jonckheere, Joachim Taminau (UGent) , Jamie Adams, Jef Haerinck (UGent) , Jordy De Coninck (UGent) , Jeroen Verstappe (UGent) , Kato De Clercq (UGent) , Evelien Peeters (UGent) , Alexander Gheldof (UGent) , Eva De Smedt (UGent) , et al.
(2025) CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION. 32(11). p.2078-2092
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Abstract
Epithelial to Mesenchymal transitions (EMT) drive cell plasticity and are associated with cell features such as invasiveness, migration and stemness. They are orchestrated by select families of EMT-associated transcription factors, which exhibit pleiotropic roles in the malignant progression of various cancer types, such as breast and colorectal cancer (CRC). This has spurred interest in EMT as a promising target for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. In this study, we developed a phenotypic dual EMT Sensor screening assay, amendable to efficient high-throughput identification of small molecules interfering with EMT. In a proof-of-concept screening we identified anti-EMT repurposing drugs. From these, we validated RepSox, a selective inhibitor of the TGF-beta type I receptor ALK5, and demonstrated that it is potently blocking EMT in both breast and colorectal cancer cell lines in vitro. In addition, utilizing a Drosophila melanogaster metastatic CRC model we confirmed the ability of the identified anti-EMT hits to suppress metastatic behavior in vivo.
Keywords
HUMAN ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS, MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION, SELECTIVE-INHIBITION, DRUG-RESISTANCE, CANCER, EXPRESSION, ZEB1, METASTASIS, INDUCTION, DISCOVERY

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Citation

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MLA
Jonckheere, Sven, et al. “Development and Validation of a High-Throughput Screening Pipeline of Compound Libraries to Target EMT.” CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION, vol. 32, no. 11, 2025, pp. 2078–92, doi:10.1038/s41418-025-01515-6.
APA
Jonckheere, S., Taminau, J., Adams, J., Haerinck, J., De Coninck, J., Verstappe, J., … Berx, G. (2025). Development and validation of a high-throughput screening pipeline of compound libraries to target EMT. CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION, 32(11), 2078–2092. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41418-025-01515-6
Chicago author-date
Jonckheere, Sven, Joachim Taminau, Jamie Adams, Jef Haerinck, Jordy De Coninck, Jeroen Verstappe, Kato De Clercq, et al. 2025. “Development and Validation of a High-Throughput Screening Pipeline of Compound Libraries to Target EMT.” CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION 32 (11): 2078–92. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41418-025-01515-6.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Jonckheere, Sven, Joachim Taminau, Jamie Adams, Jef Haerinck, Jordy De Coninck, Jeroen Verstappe, Kato De Clercq, Evelien Peeters, Alexander Gheldof, Eva De Smedt, Vera Goossens, Dominique Audenaert, Aurelie Candi, Matthias Versele, Dominic De Groote, Hanne Verschuere, Marc Stemmler, Thomas Brabletz, Peter Vandenabeele, Andreu Casali, Kyra Campbell, Steven Goossens, and Geert Berx. 2025. “Development and Validation of a High-Throughput Screening Pipeline of Compound Libraries to Target EMT.” CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION 32 (11): 2078–2092. doi:10.1038/s41418-025-01515-6.
Vancouver
1.
Jonckheere S, Taminau J, Adams J, Haerinck J, De Coninck J, Verstappe J, et al. Development and validation of a high-throughput screening pipeline of compound libraries to target EMT. CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION. 2025;32(11):2078–92.
IEEE
[1]
S. Jonckheere et al., “Development and validation of a high-throughput screening pipeline of compound libraries to target EMT,” CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION, vol. 32, no. 11, pp. 2078–2092, 2025.
@article{01JWZPMAZE4M8CAD6EZ1WQKNTJ,
  abstract     = {{Epithelial to Mesenchymal transitions (EMT) drive cell plasticity and are associated with cell features such as invasiveness, migration and stemness. They are orchestrated by select families of EMT-associated transcription factors, which exhibit pleiotropic roles in the malignant progression of various cancer types, such as breast and colorectal cancer (CRC). This has spurred interest in EMT as a promising target for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. In this study, we developed a phenotypic dual EMT Sensor screening assay, amendable to efficient high-throughput identification of small molecules interfering with EMT. In a proof-of-concept screening we identified anti-EMT repurposing drugs. From these, we validated RepSox, a selective inhibitor of the TGF-beta type I receptor ALK5, and demonstrated that it is potently blocking EMT in both breast and colorectal cancer cell lines in vitro. In addition, utilizing a Drosophila melanogaster metastatic CRC model we confirmed the ability of the identified anti-EMT hits to suppress metastatic behavior in vivo.}},
  author       = {{Jonckheere, Sven and Taminau, Joachim and Adams, Jamie and Haerinck, Jef and De Coninck, Jordy and Verstappe, Jeroen and De Clercq, Kato and Peeters, Evelien and Gheldof, Alexander and De Smedt, Eva and Goossens, Vera and Audenaert, Dominique and Candi, Aurelie and Versele, Matthias and De Groote, Dominic and Verschuere, Hanne and Stemmler, Marc and Brabletz, Thomas and Vandenabeele, Peter and Casali, Andreu and Campbell, Kyra and Goossens, Steven and Berx, Geert}},
  issn         = {{1350-9047}},
  journal      = {{CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION}},
  keywords     = {{HUMAN ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS,MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION,SELECTIVE-INHIBITION,DRUG-RESISTANCE,CANCER,EXPRESSION,ZEB1,METASTASIS,INDUCTION,DISCOVERY}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{11}},
  pages        = {{2078--2092}},
  title        = {{Development and validation of a high-throughput screening pipeline of compound libraries to target EMT}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1038/s41418-025-01515-6}},
  volume       = {{32}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}

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