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Updated: May 3, 2026

Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells
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Connexins, gap junctions and tissue invasion

Norah Defamie1, Amandine Chepied1, Marc Mesnil1

  • 1Team IP2C, STIM laboratory, University of Poitiers, CNRS ERL 7368, 1 rue Georges Bonnet, B36, 86073 Poitiers Cedex9, France.

FEBS Letters
|January 25, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Understanding how cancer cells invade tissues is key to improving patient survival. This review explores the role of connexins and gap junctions in cancer cell invasion and metastasis.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Metastasis significantly worsens cancer patient survival.
  • The molecular mechanisms driving cancer cell invasion remain incompletely understood.
  • Cancer cell evasion from the primary tumor is the critical first step in metastasis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between gap junctions, connexins, and the acquisition of an invasive cancer cell phenotype.
  • To explore the emerging roles of connexins and gap junctions in tissue invasion.

Main Methods:

  • This is a review article, synthesizing existing research.
  • Focuses on the molecular and cellular transformations associated with cancer cell invasion.
  • Examines the known involvement of gap junctional intercellular communication in cancer.

Main Results:

  • Cancer cell invasion involves down-regulation of cell-cell adhesion and modification of cell-matrix adhesion.
  • Invasive cells acquire proteolytic properties and activate stromal cells to facilitate motility.
  • Emerging evidence suggests connexins and gap junctions play a role in these invasive transformations.

Conclusions:

  • Gap junctions and their protein components, connexins, are implicated in the development of cancer cell invasiveness.
  • Further research into connexins and gap junctions may reveal new therapeutic targets for preventing metastasis.
Keywords:
ConnexinGap junctionInvasion and tumor cellMigration

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