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Updated: Mar 30, 2026

Quantitative Analysis of Cell Edge Dynamics during Cell Spreading
Published on: May 22, 2021
Molecular basis of contact inhibition of locomotion
Alice Roycroft1, Roberto Mayor2
1Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
Abstract:
Contact inhibition of locomotion (CIL) is a complex process, whereby cells undergoing a collision with another cell cease their migration towards the colliding cell. CIL has been identified in numerous cells during development including embryonic fibroblasts, neural crest cells and haemocytes and is the driving force behind a range of phenomenon including collective cell migration and dispersion. The loss of normal CIL behaviour towards healthy tissue has long been implicated in the invasion of cancer cells. CIL is a multi-step process that is driven by the tight coordination of molecular machinery. In this review, we shall breakdown CIL into distinct steps and highlight the key molecular mechanisms and components that are involved in driving each step of this process.
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