EMT cells are cells that have undergone a biological process called Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). This transition fundamentally changes the characteristics of the cell. As stated in the provided reference, EMT is "a physiological process in which epithelial cells acquire the motile and invasive characteristics of mesenchymal cells." In simpler terms, epithelial cells, which are normally tightly connected and form a barrier, transform into mesenchymal cells, which are more independent, mobile, and capable of invading surrounding tissues.
Therefore, EMT cells are essentially epithelial cells that have been transformed to possess mesenchymal cell characteristics.
