Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026

An Immunofluorescent Method for Characterization of Barrett’s Esophagus Cells
Published on: July 20, 2014
Soluble E-cadherin promotes cell survival by activating epidermal growth factor receptor
Landon J Inge1, Sonali P Barwe, Julia D'Ambrosio
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
None:
High levels of the soluble form of E-cadherin can be found in the serum of cancer patients and are associated with poor prognosis. Despite the possible predictive value of soluble E-cadherin, little is understood concerning its patho-physiological consequences in tumor progression. In this study, we show that soluble E-cadherin facilitates cell survival via functional interaction with cellular E-cadherin. Exposure of cells to a recombinant form of soluble E-cadherin, at a concentration found in cancer patient's serum, prevents apoptosis due to serum/growth factor withdrawal, and inhibits epithelial lumen formation, a process that requires apoptosis. Further, soluble E-cadherin-mediated cell survival involves activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and EGFR-mediated activation of both phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/AKT and ERK1/2 signaling pathways. These results are evidence of a complex functional interplay between EGFR and E-cadherin and also suggest that the presence of soluble E-cadherin in cancer patients' sera might have relevance to cell survival and tumor progression.
Related Concept Videos
Cadherins in Tissue Organization
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
Structure of Cadherins
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive EGFR activation may...

