Cell polarity in development and cancer.
1Department of Stem Cell Biology, DFG Research Center for Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CMPB), University of Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. awodarz@gwdg.de
Nature Cell Biology
|September 1, 2007
Summary
Cancer develops through DNA mutations. Loss of cell adhesion and polarity, common in advanced tumors, may also drive early cancer stages, as suggested by fruit fly studies on cell polarity genes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Cancer development involves DNA mutations in genes controlling cellular processes.
- Loss of cell-cell adhesion and polarity is linked to tumor invasion and metastasis.
- Emerging evidence suggests these cellular changes are crucial in early cancer development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of cell-cell adhesion and polarity loss in early cancer development.
- To investigate the implications of findings from Drosophila melanogaster tumor suppressor gene studies for human cancer.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing evidence on cell adhesion, polarity, and cancer.
- Analysis of studies on tumor suppressor genes in Drosophila melanogaster.
- Correlation of cellular changes with cancer progression and metastasis.
Main Results:
- Loss of cell-cell adhesion and polarity is a hallmark of advanced tumors.
- These cellular changes are increasingly recognized as important in early cancer stages.
- Drosophila melanogaster studies highlight the role of specific genes in maintaining apical-basal cell polarity, relevant to cancer.
Conclusions:
- Disruption of cell adhesion and polarity is critical in both early and advanced cancer.
- Tumor suppressor genes controlling cell polarity are vital in preventing cancer progression.
- Further research into these mechanisms could reveal new therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Polarity of the Cytoskeleton
The intrinsic polarity of cells can be primarily attributed to two factors- i) the asymmetric accumulation of mobile components such are regulatory molecules and subcellular components across the cell and ii) the orientation of polar cytoskeletal filaments that make up the cytoskeletal networks, specifically microfilaments, and microtubules arranged along the axis of polarity. Interactions between the cytoskeletal filaments are crucial for the establishment and maintenance of the polar nature...
01:21Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins
Cell polarity is the asymmetric distribution of cellular and membrane components, making one side of the cell different from the other. This polarity is essential to many processes such as embryogenesis, axon migration, glucose transport across epithelial cells, and directional cell migration. A migrating cell responds to intracellular or extracellular signals via molecular cascades that reorganize the actin cytoskeleton to establish this polarity. In these cells, the Rho family proteins Cdc42,...
01:19Cadherins in Tissue Organization
The cadherins are a superfamily of cell adhesion molecules comprising over 180 variants, with specific tissues expressing a particular combination of cadherin types. Cadherins generally exhibit homophilic binding; i.e., cadherins on one cell bind to cadherins of the same or closely related type on another cell. Thus, cells of the same type have a specific affinity to bind to each other and sort themselves into clusters to form tissues.
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
01:35Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia
Invadosome is a broad category of cell surface structures with proteolytic activity that degrades the extracellular matrix (ECM). Invadosomes are present in normal cell types, including macrophages, endothelial cells, and neurons, as well as tumor cells. Although the macrophage podosomes and tumor cell invadopodia are classified as invadosomes, they have different structures, molecular pathways, and functions. Podosomes are short structures that last for a few minutes. However, invadopodia can...
01:21Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration
Cells can detect chemical cues in their environment and reorganize the cytoskeleton to migrate toward them or away from them. This directional migration, called chemotaxis, is essential during embryogenesis and development, immune response, tissue repair and regeneration, and reproduction. These chemical cues can either attract or repel the cell's movement. For example, axon development is determined by a combination of chemoattractants and chemorepellents that direct the growing axon towards...
01:19Cell Migration
Cell migration is a process by which the cells move from one location to another, playing an essential role in embryological development, repair and regeneration, immune response, and metastasis. Cells migrate in response to chemical or mechanical signals generated by specific organs or tissues. The overall mechanism includes three steps - polarization, protrusion, and release. Polarization involves the formation of a distinct cell front and rear, which determines the direction of movement.