Adhesion molecules in lung cancer: implications in the pathogenesis and management

Growth and metastasis of lung cancer requires a sequence of events, which alter the ability of neoplastic cells to adhere to themselves, to normal surrounding cells, or to the extracellular matrix. Interactions between cells are primarily mediated by four types of structures in the plasma membrane: gap junctions, tight junctions, desmosomes, and adherence junctions. We have reviewed the existing data on the implication of adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of lung cancer, as well as the application of certain adhesion molecules as potential surrogate markers in lung cancer patients.