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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

A Modified In vitro Invasion Assay to Determine the Potential Role of Hormones, Cytokines and/or Growth Factors in Mediating Cancer Cell Invasion
Published on: April 24, 2015
Modulators of cancer cell invasiveness
Jean S Kan1, Gregory S Delassus, Kenneth G D'Souza
1Department of Pathology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63104-1004, USA.
This study identifies key proteins and microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in cancer cell invasiveness, revealing a complex signaling network. Understanding this network is crucial for developing targeted cancer therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Cell invasiveness is critical for cancer metastasis.
- Numerous proteins and non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), influence cancer cell invasiveness.
- A gap exists between known molecules and experimentally verified signaling pathways controlling invasiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To consolidate and analyze known proteins and RNAs affecting cancer cell invasiveness.
- To identify and map the signaling networks governing cancer cell invasiveness.
- To highlight knowledge gaps and guide future research in cancer invasiveness signaling.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review to identify proteins, miRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs impacting cancer cell invasiveness.
- Network analysis to map interactions between identified proteins.
- Data aggregation to identify trends and knowledge gaps.
Main Results:
- Identified 589 proteins, 28 miRNAs, and 1 long non-coding RNA modulating cancer cell invasiveness.
- Observed 44 proteins with context-dependent roles (enhancing or suppressing invasiveness).
- Constructed a "hub-and-spoke" network linking interacting proteins, revealing a cohesive signaling architecture.
Conclusions:
- Cancer cell invasiveness is regulated by a complex, interconnected network of proteins and RNAs.
- The identified network provides a foundation for understanding invasiveness signaling.
- Mapping these networks is vital for advancing combination and personalized cancer therapies.
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