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Updated: Jul 1, 2026
Characterization of Cell Membrane Extensions and Studying Their Roles in Cancer Cell Adhesion Dynamics
Published on: March 26, 2018
Endocytosis and cancer: an 'insider' network with dangerous liaisons
Letizia Lanzetti1, Pier Paolo Di Fiore
1Dipartimento di Scienze Oncologiche, Università degli Studi di Torino, Istituto per la Ricerca e la Cura del Cancro, Candiolo, Turin, Italy.
Abstract:
From the signaling point of view, endocytosis has long been regarded as a major mechanism of attenuation, through the degradation of signaling receptors and, in some cases, of their ligands. This outlook has changed, over the past decade, as it has become clear that signaling persists in the endocytic route, and that intracellular endocytic stations (the 'signaling endosomes') actually contribute to the sorting of signals in space and time. Endocytosis-mediated recycling of receptors and of signaling molecules to specific regions of the plasma membrane is also coming into focus as a major mechanism in the execution of spatially restricted functions, such as cell motility. In addition, emerging evidence connects endocytosis as a whole, or individual endocytic proteins, to complex cellular programs, such as the control of the cell cycle, mitosis, apoptosis and cell fate determination. Thus, endocytosis seems to be deeply ingrained into the cell regulation blueprint and its subversion is predicted to play an important role in human diseases: first and foremost, cancer.
Insights
Endocytosis, once seen only for signal attenuation, is now known to actively regulate cell signaling. This process is crucial for cell functions and implicated in diseases like cancer.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Signaling
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Endocytosis was traditionally viewed as a mechanism for signal attenuation via receptor and ligand degradation.
- Recent research reveals that signaling persists within the endocytic pathway, challenging this traditional view.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the evolving understanding of endocytosis beyond signal attenuation.
- To highlight the role of endocytosis in signal persistence, spatial-temporal sorting, and cellular functions.
- To connect endocytosis to complex cellular programs and human diseases, particularly cancer.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature and emerging evidence on endocytosis and cell signaling.
- Analysis of the functional roles of endocytic proteins in cellular processes.
Main Results:
- Signaling endosomes contribute to the spatial and temporal regulation of signals.
- Endocytosis-mediated recycling is vital for spatially restricted functions like cell motility.
- Endocytosis is linked to cell cycle control, mitosis, apoptosis, and cell fate determination.
Conclusions:
- Endocytosis is a fundamental component of cellular regulatory networks.
- Dysregulation of endocytosis is implicated in the pathogenesis of human diseases, notably cancer.
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