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Related Concept Videos

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...
Tumor Progression02:07

Tumor Progression

Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
Tumor Progression02:07

Tumor Progression

Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
Metastasis02:30

Metastasis

Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Three-Dimensional (3D) Tumor Spheroid Invasion Assay
12:19

Three-Dimensional (3D) Tumor Spheroid Invasion Assay

Published on: May 1, 2015

Cortactin in tumor invasiveness.

Alissa M Weaver1

  • 1Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 448 PRB, VUMC, Nashville, TN 37232-6840, USA. Alissa.weaver@vanderbilt.edu

Cancer Letters
|April 15, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Cortactin, a protein overexpressed in cancer, promotes tumor aggressiveness by enhancing cell invasion and metastasis. This review highlights cortactin's critical role in invadopodia formation and extracellular matrix degradation, key processes in cancer spread.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cortactin is a cytoskeletal protein and src kinase substrate.
  • Cortactin overexpression is frequently observed in various cancers.
  • Animal studies link cortactin overexpression to increased tumor aggressiveness, invasion, and metastasis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evidence supporting cortactin's role in tumor cell invasion.
  • To explore the potential mechanisms by which cortactin mediates invasion.
  • To highlight cortactin's function in invadopodia.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on cortactin and cancer cell invasion.
  • Analysis of cortactin's involvement in cell motility and extracellular matrix degradation.

More Related Videos

A Cancer Cell Spheroid Assay to Assess Invasion in a 3D Setting
05:34

A Cancer Cell Spheroid Assay to Assess Invasion in a 3D Setting

Published on: November 20, 2015

Quantitative Measurement of Invadopodia-mediated Extracellular Matrix Proteolysis in Single and Multicellular Contexts
14:23

Quantitative Measurement of Invadopodia-mediated Extracellular Matrix Proteolysis in Single and Multicellular Contexts

Published on: August 27, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Three-Dimensional (3D) Tumor Spheroid Invasion Assay
12:19

Three-Dimensional (3D) Tumor Spheroid Invasion Assay

Published on: May 1, 2015

A Cancer Cell Spheroid Assay to Assess Invasion in a 3D Setting
05:34

A Cancer Cell Spheroid Assay to Assess Invasion in a 3D Setting

Published on: November 20, 2015

Quantitative Measurement of Invadopodia-mediated Extracellular Matrix Proteolysis in Single and Multicellular Contexts
14:23

Quantitative Measurement of Invadopodia-mediated Extracellular Matrix Proteolysis in Single and Multicellular Contexts

Published on: August 27, 2012

  • Focus on the role of cortactin in invadopodia formation.

    • Main Results:

    • Cortactin plays a critical role in promoting cancer cell motility and invasion.
    • Cortactin is essential for the formation and function of invadopodia.
    • Invadopodia, driven by cortactin, facilitate extracellular matrix degradation by cancer cells.

    Conclusions:

    • Cortactin is a key mediator of tumor cell invasion and metastasis.
    • Understanding cortactin's mechanisms could lead to novel therapeutic strategies targeting cancer spread.
    • Targeting cortactin may represent a viable approach to inhibit tumor aggressiveness.