Epithelial-Mesenchymal Plasticity in Tumor Immune Evasion

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental process that occurs during embryogenesis and tissue repair. How-ever, EMT can be hijacked by malignant cells, where it may promote immune evasion and metastasis. Classically considered a dichoto-mous transition, EMT in cancer has recently been considered a plastic process whereby malignant cells display and interconvert among hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) states. Epithelial- mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) and associated hybrid E/M states are divergent from classical EMT, with unique immunomodulatory effects. Here, we review recent insights into the EMP-immune cross -talk, highlighting possible mechanisms of immune evasion con-ferred by hybrid E/M states and roles of immune cells in EMP.