[Role of ephrins in regulation of tumour cell migration]

Eph receptors are the largest known subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases. They interact with membrane-bound proteins called ephrins. Recently, an increasing body of evidence shows that ephrins and Eph receptors are involved in pathological processes such as carcinogenesis. Their upregulation in various types of tumors has been demonstrated, highlighting the correlation between this phenomenon and enhanced tumor progression. An exponentially growing interest in their function has resulted in a considerably advanced understanding of the role of ephrins in regulation of cell motility. This is relevant, since active migration is one of the critical cell feature in tumor invasion and metastasis. Here, we summarize recent reports concerning mechanisms of Eph/ephrin signaling and its role in tumour cell migration. Ephrins can regulate cell migration directly, by activation of cytoskeleton rearrangement, or indirectly by changes in cell-cell or cell-ECM adhesion. The relevance of these processes in tumor invasion together with the involvement of ephrins in tumor angiogenesis creates Eph/ephrins pathway as a novel target for cancer treatment.