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Related Concept Videos

Selectins01:25

Selectins

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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,...
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Metastasis02:30

Metastasis

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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...
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The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

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Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
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Integrins01:10

Integrins

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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,...
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Activation of Integrins01:15

Activation of Integrins

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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...
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Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

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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...
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Related Experiment Video

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Lung Tumor Cell Recruitment Assay
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Selectins promote tumor metastasis.

Heinz Läubli1, Lubor Borsig

  • 1Institute of Physiology, University of Zürich, Zürich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland.

Seminars in Cancer Biology
|May 11, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Selectins (P-selectin, L-selectin, and E-selectin) mediate cancer cell adhesion to blood vessels, promoting metastasis. Targeting these interactions may offer new cancer treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Oncology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Cancer metastasis involves complex cell-cell interactions, including those with endothelial cells, platelets, and leukocytes.
  • Selectins are key adhesion molecules involved in inflammation, immunity, and hemostasis, binding to specific carbohydrate structures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the accumulating evidence on the role of selectins in facilitating cancer metastasis.
  • To discuss the mechanisms by which selectins contribute to cancer cell adhesion, extravasation, and the formation of metastatic lesions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating selectin-mediated interactions in cancer metastasis.
  • Analysis of the expression of selectin ligands on cancer cells and their correlation with prognosis.

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Main Results:

  • Selectins (P-selectin, L-selectin, E-selectin) are frequently expressed on tumor cells and contribute to initial cancer cell adhesion.
  • Selectin-mediated adhesion triggers integrin activation and chemokine release, aiding in the establishment of a permissive metastatic microenvironment.
  • Expression levels of selectin ligands on cancer cells correlate with metastatic potential and patient prognosis.

Conclusions:

  • Selectins play a significant role in promoting cancer metastasis through various mechanisms.
  • Understanding selectin-cancer cell interactions offers potential therapeutic targets for inhibiting metastasis.