PMID: 11912444Mar 26, 2002Paper

Cell adhesion proteins as tumor suppressors

The Journal of Urology
Takatsugu OkegawaJer-Tsong Hsieh

Abstract

We summarize recent progress on the role of cell adhesion molecules in biology and discuss the potential application of cell adhesion molecules for managing urological cancer. We comprehensively reviewed the literature from 1982 to 2001, including peer reviewed publications and recent abstracts from national meetings, relevant to cell adhesion molecules in urological cancer. A growing body of evidence suggests that alterations in the adhesion properties of neoplastic cells have a pivotal role in the development and progression of cancer. Loss of intercellular adhesion and desquamation of cells from the underlying lamina propria allows malignant cells to escape from their site of origin, degrade the extracellular matrix, acquire a more motile and invasion phenotype, and invade and metastasize. In addition to participating in tumor invasiveness and metastasis, adhesion molecules regulate or significantly contribute to various functions, including signal transduction, cell growth, differentiation, site specific gene expression, morphogenesis, immunological function, cell motility, wound healing and inflammation. To date a diverse system of transmembrane glycoproteins has been identified that mediates cell-cell and cell-extracellul...Continue Reading

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