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Related Concept Videos

Integrins01:10

Integrins

Animal and protozoan cells do not have cell walls to help maintain shape and provide structural stability. Instead, these eukaryotic cells secrete a sticky mass of carbohydrates and proteins into the spaces between adjacent cells. This network of proteins and molecules is called an extracellular matrix or ECM.
Some ECM proteins assemble into a basement membrane to which the remaining components adhere. Proteoglycans typically form the bulk of the ECM while fibrous proteins, like collagen,...
Activation of Integrins01:15

Activation of Integrins

Integrins bind ligands and transmit information from outside the cell to inside or vice-versa through an "outside-in signaling" or "inside-out signaling."
In "outside-in signaling," external factors in the extracellular space bind to exposed ligand binding sites on integrins. This causes the inactive protein to undergo a conformational change to become active. Integrins are often clustered on the cell membrane. Repetitive and regularly spaced ligand binding events provide an effective stimulus.
Selectins01:25

Selectins

Cell adhesion is  an essential aspect of multicellularity. While stable cell interactions usually occur between cells of the same type, transient cell interactions occur between cells of different tissue types, such as between neutrophils and endothelial cells. Selectins are one class of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that bind carbohydrate ligands to form transient cell adhesion. They are rod-like proteins with a long extracellular part of variable length ending with the lectin domain, which...
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types –  adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as  epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as  heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia01:35

Cancer 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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Impedance-based Real-time Measurement of Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion
09:23

Impedance-based Real-time Measurement of Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion

Published on: April 2, 2020

Integrins and cancer.

Stergios J Moschos1, Laura M Drogowski, Shelley L Reppert

  • 1Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Melanoma and Skin Cancer Program, University of Pittsburgh, Cancer Institute, USA.

Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.)
|October 12, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Integrins are key regulators of cell functions and cancer progression. Targeting integrins offers promising therapeutic and imaging strategies for various cancers, with ongoing clinical trials.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Integrins are crucial for cell adhesion, growth, migration, and apoptosis.
  • Dysregulated integrin expression is linked to various diseases, including cancer.
  • Small-molecule integrin inhibitors are approved for benign hematologic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the fundamental biology of integrins.
  • To elucidate the role of integrins in cancer development and progression.
  • To summarize clinical advancements in integrin-targeted cancer therapies and imaging.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of integrin biology and signaling pathways.
  • Analysis of integrin's role in carcinogenesis.
  • Synopsis of current clinical trials for integrin-targeting agents in cancer.

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A 3D Spheroid Model as a More Physiological System for Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Differentiation and Invasion In Vitro Studies
06:27

A 3D Spheroid Model as a More Physiological System for Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Differentiation and Invasion In Vitro Studies

Published on: August 8, 2019

Tension Gauge Tether Probes for Quantifying Growth Factor Mediated Integrin Mechanics and Adhesion
09:56

Tension Gauge Tether Probes for Quantifying Growth Factor Mediated Integrin Mechanics and Adhesion

Published on: February 11, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Impedance-based Real-time Measurement of Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion
09:23

Impedance-based Real-time Measurement of Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion

Published on: April 2, 2020

A 3D Spheroid Model as a More Physiological System for Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Differentiation and Invasion In Vitro Studies
06:27

A 3D Spheroid Model as a More Physiological System for Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Differentiation and Invasion In Vitro Studies

Published on: August 8, 2019

Tension Gauge Tether Probes for Quantifying Growth Factor Mediated Integrin Mechanics and Adhesion
09:56

Tension Gauge Tether Probes for Quantifying Growth Factor Mediated Integrin Mechanics and Adhesion

Published on: February 11, 2022

Main Results:

  • Integrins mediate "bidirectional" signaling, influencing apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis in cancer.
  • Aberrant integrin expression, rather than dominant mutations, is characteristic of cancer.
  • Clinical studies are exploring integrin inhibitors and imaging agents for melanoma, prostate cancer, and other malignancies.

Conclusions:

  • Integrins are critical players in cancer biology, impacting multiple hallmarks of the disease.
  • Targeting integrins presents a viable strategy for cancer treatment and diagnosis.
  • Further clinical investigation is warranted to fully realize the therapeutic potential of integrin-targeting agents.