ILK-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition promotes the invasive phenotype in adenomyosis

Highlights: • Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition involved in pathogenesis of adenomyosis. • ILK-induced EMT promotes the development of adenomyosis. • Endometrial cells from eutopic endometrium show increased motility and invasiveness. Adenomyosis is a benign gynecological disease, characterized by the malignant biological behaviors of invasion and metastasis. ILK plays an important role in intercellular adhesion and triggers the process of EMT. In this study, we investigated the role of ILK-induced EMT in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis.