Cell adhesion molecules and their relation to (cancer) cell stemness

Area of Science:

• Oncology and Cell Biology
• Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer

Background:

• Solid tumors, particularly in advanced metastatic stages, remain largely incurable despite extensive research.
• Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are crucial drivers of tumor growth, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance.
• Adhesion molecules play a fundamental role in normal stem cell (SC) biology and are implicated in cancer progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the processes of cellular reprogramming and carcinogenesis.
• To elucidate the role of adhesion molecules in regulating cancer stem cell (CSC) behavior, including division and interaction with the extracellular matrix.
• To analyze changes in adhesion molecule expression during cancer progression and metastasis.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature comparing stem cells (SCs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs).
• Analysis of the role of adhesion molecules (e.g., cadherins, integrins) and transcription factors (e.g., Twist, Snail) in cancer progression.
• Discussion of CSC-targeting strategies involving adhesion molecules and tumor vasculature.

Main Results:

• Adhesion molecules significantly influence CSC division (symmetric/asymmetric) and their interactions with the extracellular matrix.
• Expression patterns of key adhesion molecules and transcription factors change as cancer progresses and metastases develop.
• These molecular changes are critical for epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and anoikis evasion.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the interplay between adhesion molecules and CSCs provides insights into carcinogenesis and metastasis.
• Adhesion molecules are critical regulators of CSC behavior and represent promising targets for novel anticancer therapies.
• Targeting CSCs via adhesion molecules or tumor vasculature offers new therapeutic avenues for intractable solid tumors.