Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Impedance-based Real-time Measurement of Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion
09:23

Impedance-based Real-time Measurement of Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion

Published on: April 2, 2020

Integrin-linked kinase has a critical role in ErbB2 mammary tumor progression: implications for human breast cancer

S M Pontier1, L Huck, D E White

  • 1Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Oncogene
|March 23, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is crucial for mammary tumor development. Inhibiting ILK blocks tumor growth and invasion, but tumors can overcome this by upregulating ErbB3 phosphorylation.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is frequently overexpressed in various cancers.
  • Elevated ILK expression correlates with poor clinical outcomes in cancer patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of ILK in mammary tumor induction and progression.
  • To determine the effects of ILK inhibition on ErbB2-expressing cancer cells.

Main Methods:

  • Mammary epithelial-specific disruption of ILK in a mouse model.
  • Inhibition of ILK function using small molecule inhibitors and RNA interference in ErbB2-expressing cells.
  • Analysis of tumor induction, cell invasion, and apoptotic cell death.

Main Results:

  • Disruption of ILK in mammary epithelium significantly blocked tumor induction.
  • ILK inhibition in ErbB2-expressing cells halted in vitro invasion by inducing apoptosis.
  • Tumors that eventually developed in ILK-deficient settings upregulated ErbB3 phosphorylation to overcome the block.

Conclusions:

  • ILK plays a critical role in the initiation phase of ErbB2-driven mammary tumor induction.
  • Targeting ILK presents a potential therapeutic strategy for ErbB2-positive breast cancers.
  • ErbB3 signaling is a compensatory mechanism for ILK-deficient tumors.

More Related Videos

Quantification of Breast Cancer Cell Invasiveness Using a Three-dimensional (3D) Model08:08

Quantification of Breast Cancer Cell Invasiveness Using a Three-dimensional (3D) Model

Published on: June 11, 2014

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells06:54

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells

Published on: October 27, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
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...
Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal01:22

Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma receptor (Eph) and its ligand, Eph receptor-interacting protein (Ephrin) were first discovered in the human carcinoma cell line, hence the name. Ephrin-Eph interaction guides cells to reach their appropriate location in adult tissues. They also play an essential role in the immune system by helping in immune cell migration, adhesion, and activation. Based on their structure and function, Eph is divided into two classes — EphA and EphB.
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a rapamycin-insensitive companion...
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.