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Related Concept Videos

Integrins01:10

Integrins

3.7K
Animal and protozoan cells do not have cell walls to help maintain shape and provide structural stability. Instead, these eukaryotic cells secrete a sticky mass of carbohydrates and proteins into the spaces between adjacent cells. This network of proteins and molecules is called an extracellular matrix or ECM.
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,...
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Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

2.5K
Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
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Activation of Integrins01:15

Activation of Integrins

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Integrins bind ligands and transmit information from outside the cell to inside or vice-versa through an "outside-in signaling" or "inside-out signaling."
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...
3.3K
Metastasis02:30

Metastasis

5.5K
Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
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...
5.5K
Selectins01:25

Selectins

3.2K
Cell adhesion is  an essential aspect of multicellularity. While stable cell interactions usually occur between cells of the same type, transient cell interactions occur between cells of different tissue types, such as between neutrophils and endothelial cells. Selectins are one class of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that bind carbohydrate ligands to form transient cell adhesion. They are rod-like proteins with a long extracellular part of variable length ending with the lectin domain,...
3.2K
Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia01:35

Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia

2.3K
Invadosome is a broad category of cell surface structures with proteolytic activity that  degrades the extracellular matrix (ECM). Invadosomes are present in normal cell types, including macrophages, endothelial cells, and neurons, as well as tumor cells. Although the macrophage podosomes and tumor cell invadopodia are classified as invadosomes, they have different structures, molecular pathways, and functions. Podosomes are short structures that last for a few minutes. However,...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2025

In vitro Mesothelial Clearance Assay that Models the Early Steps of Ovarian Cancer Metastasis
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In vitro Mesothelial Clearance Assay that Models the Early Steps of Ovarian Cancer Metastasis

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Integrins as Key Mediators of Metastasis.

Daniel Cáceres-Calle1,2, Irene Torre-Cea1,2, Laura Marcos-Zazo1,2

  • 1Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|February 13, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Integrins, crucial proteins in cell adhesion, drive cancer metastasis through multiple stages. Targeting integrin function offers a promising therapeutic strategy against metastatic disease and treatment resistance.

Keywords:
extracellular matrixintegrinsmetastasistumor blood vessels

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Assessing Tumor Microenvironment of Metastasis Doorway-Mediated Vascular Permeability Associated with Cancer Cell Dissemination using Intravital Imaging and Fixed Tissue Analysis
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Assessing Tumor Microenvironment of Metastasis Doorway-Mediated Vascular Permeability Associated with Cancer Cell Dissemination using Intravital Imaging and Fixed Tissue Analysis

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Quantitative Measurement of Invadopodia-mediated Extracellular Matrix Proteolysis in Single and Multicellular Contexts
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Quantitative Measurement of Invadopodia-mediated Extracellular Matrix Proteolysis in Single and Multicellular Contexts

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 28, 2025

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In vitro Mesothelial Clearance Assay that Models the Early Steps of Ovarian Cancer Metastasis

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Assessing Tumor Microenvironment of Metastasis Doorway-Mediated Vascular Permeability Associated with Cancer Cell Dissemination using Intravital Imaging and Fixed Tissue Analysis
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Quantitative Measurement of Invadopodia-mediated Extracellular Matrix Proteolysis in Single and Multicellular Contexts
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Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Medicine

Background:

  • Metastasis is a major clinical challenge, often leading to therapeutic resistance.
  • The metastatic cascade involves distinct phases: niche formation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, dissemination, latency, and colonization.
  • Integrins are transmembrane proteins critical to cell adhesion and signaling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the significant role of integrins in the metastatic cascade.
  • To underscore the potential of integrin-targeting therapies for combating metastasis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific literature on integrin function in cancer metastasis.
  • Analysis of integrin involvement in key metastatic processes.

Main Results:

  • Integrins mediate cell adhesion and intracellular signaling essential for metastasis.
  • They initiate epithelial-mesenchymal transition, pre-metastatic niche formation, and tumor cell migration.
  • Integrins also play a role in tumor vascularization, supporting metastatic growth.

Conclusions:

  • Integrins are pivotal regulators throughout the metastatic cascade.
  • Inhibiting integrin function presents a viable therapeutic approach to counteract metastasis and resistance.