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The focal adhesion protein Integrin-Linked Kinase (ILK) as an important player in breast cancer pathogenesis

Katerina Tsirtsaki1, Vasiliki Gkretsi1

  • 1Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus , Nicosia, Cyprus.

Cell Adhesion & Migration
|October 12, 2020
PubMed

Cell-extracellular matrix interactions, or focal adhesions (FA), are crucial for tissue homeostasis but are also implicated in cancer. Integrin-Linked Kinase (ILK) is an abundantly expressed FA protein involved in multiple signaling pathways. Here, we reviewed the current literature on the role of ILK in breast cancer (BC). Articles included in vitro and in vivo experiments as well as studies in human BC samples. ILK attenuation via silencing or pharmaceutical inhibition, leads to apoptosis or inhibition of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and cell invasion whereas ILK overexpression suppresses anoikis and promotes tumor growth and metastasis. Finally, ILK is upregulated in BC tumors and its expression is associated with grade, and metastasis. Therefore, ILK should be evaluated as a potential anti-cancer pharmaceutical target.

Keywords:
AktBreast cancerEMTILKPARVAPINCH-1Rictorfocal adhesionsinvasionmetastasis

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