Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 23, 2026

Impedance-based Real-time Measurement of Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion
Published on: April 2, 2020
The Role of Drebrin in Cancer Cell Invasion
Anna E Dart1, Phillip R Gordon-Weeks2
1MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, New Hunt's House, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK. anna.dart@kcl.ac.uk.
Drebrin, a protein initially found in neurons, is increasingly linked to cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Understanding its role may reveal new drug targets to combat cancer spread and improve patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cancer progression involves cell migration, invasion, and metastasis, which are primary causes of cancer-related mortality.
- Drebrin, initially identified in neuronal cells, is now recognized for its expression in various non-neuronal cells, including cancer cell lines.
- Elevated drebrin expression is frequently observed in diverse cancer types, suggesting its potential involvement in tumor advancement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of drebrin in cancer cell invasion and metastasis.
- To explore drebrin as a potential therapeutic target for inhibiting tumor dissemination.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of drebrin expression in cancer cell lines.
- Investigating the association between drebrin and cancer cell motility and invasion.
- Examining the impact of drebrin on cellular morphology and cytoskeleton remodeling.
Main Results:
- Drebrin expression is upregulated in various cancer cell lines.
- Evidence suggests drebrin plays a role in cancer cell motility and invasion.
- Drebrin is implicated in the dynamic remodeling of the cytoskeleton during cancer development.
Conclusions:
- Drebrin is a potential key player in the metastatic cascade of various cancers.
- Targeting drebrin could offer a strategy to impede tumor cell spread and reduce cancer mortality.
Related Concept Videos
Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia
Metastasis
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
Integrins
Some ECM proteins assemble into a basement membrane to which the remaining components adhere. Proteoglycans typically form the bulk of the ECM while fibrous proteins, like collagen,...
Activation of Integrins
In "outside-in signaling," external factors in the extracellular space bind to exposed ligand binding sites on integrins. This causes the inactive protein to undergo a conformational change to become active. Integrins are often clustered on the cell membrane. Repetitive and regularly spaced ligand binding...
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

