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Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
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.
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,...
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: Jun 20, 2026

A Portal Vein Injection Model to Study Liver Metastasis of Breast Cancer
07:35

A Portal Vein Injection Model to Study Liver Metastasis of Breast Cancer

Published on: December 26, 2016

Integrin alpha2 mediates selective metastasis to the liver.

Kiyoshi Yoshimura1, Kristen F Meckel, Lindsay S Laird

  • 1Department of Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 600 North Wolfe Street, Blalock 685, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.

Cancer Research
|September 10, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Integrin alpha2 is uniquely upregulated in liver-metastasizing melanoma and colorectal cancer, promoting hepatic metastasis by binding to collagen type IV. This molecule may be a target to prevent liver metastasis.

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Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

A Portal Vein Injection Model to Study Liver Metastasis of Breast Cancer
07:35

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Published on: December 26, 2016

A Preclinical Murine Model of Hepatic Metastases
06:51

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07:39

The Establishment of a Lung Colonization Assay for Circulating Tumor Cell Visualization in Lung Tissues

Published on: June 16, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Cancers exhibit organ-specific metastasis patterns.
  • Cell membrane molecules play a role in metastasis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of cell membrane molecules in liver metastasis.
  • To identify specific molecules involved in hepatic metastasis of melanoma and colorectal cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of cell membrane molecules in B16 melanoma sublines.
  • Functional studies including antibody blockade and ectopic expression of integrin alpha2.
  • Analysis of human colorectal cancer and metastases for integrin alpha2 expression.

Main Results:

  • Integrin alpha2 was uniquely upregulated in a liver-metastasizing B16 melanoma subline.
  • Integrin alpha2 expression levels correlated with hepatic metastasis potential.
  • Integrin alpha2 expression was also observed in human colorectal liver metastases.

Conclusions:

  • Integrin alpha2 mediates binding to collagen type IV, crucial for liver metastasis.
  • Integrin alpha2 is a key molecule conferring selective potential for hepatic metastasis.
  • Integrin alpha2 represents a potential therapeutic target for preventing liver metastasis.