Epithelial-mesenchymal transition plasticity in breast cancer: regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic implications

Metastatic dissemination and therapeutic failure, the major determinants of breast cancer mortality, are fundamentally driven by epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its phenotypic plasticity. This review comprehensively interrogates the regulatory logic of EMT plasticity in breast cancer, decoding the intricate interplay among transcription factor cascades, epigenetic landscapes, non-coding RNA circuits, and microenvironmental cues that collectively sustain tumor cell adaptability. We further delineate the translational frontier, summarizing recent advances in pharmacologically targeting EMT core regulators and discussing the promise and pitfalls of plasticity-modulating therapeutic paradigms. Ultimately, by integrating evolving knowledge from basic and translational research, we present a cohesive framework aimed at bridging mechanistic understanding with clinical decision-making, with the goal of refining precision therapy for breast cancer patients.