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Cell adhesion in invasion and metastasis.
J Behrens1, U Frixen, J Schipper
1University of Essen Medical School, Germany.
Seminars in Cell Biology
|June 1, 1992
Summary
Metastatic cells can change adhesion to spread. This review covers how adhesion molecules, extracellular matrix, and cytokines drive cancer metastasis, focusing on E-cadherin loss and scatter factor in cell dissociation.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Cancer Research
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Metastatic cells display adaptable adhesive properties.
- Understanding cell adhesion is crucial for cancer research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of adhesion molecules, extracellular matrix, and cytokines in cancer metastasis.
- To highlight the significance of intercellular adhesion disruption in cancer cell release.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on cell adhesion and metastasis.
- Focus on molecular mechanisms of cell dissociation.
Main Results:
- Specific adhesion receptors, extracellular matrix molecules, and cytokines are involved in the metastatic cascade.
- Loss of E-cadherin function/expression and scatter factor activity facilitate cell dissociation from primary tumors.
Conclusions:
- Disturbance of intercellular adhesion is a key step in cancer cell invasion.
- E-cadherin downregulation and scatter factor are critical for initiating metastasis.