Cadherins and cancer: how does cadherin dysfunction promote tumor progression?

摘要: It has long been recognized that the cell-cell adhesion receptor, E-cadherin, is an important determinant of tumor progression, serving as a suppressor invasion and metastasis in many contexts. Yet how loss E-cadherin function promotes progression poorly understood. In this review, we focus on three potential underlying mechanisms: capacity to regulate beta-catenin signaling canonical Wnt pathway; its inhibit mitogenic through growth factor receptors possible links between cadherins molecular determinants epithelial polarity. Each these mechanisms provides insights into complexity likely responsible for tumor-suppressive action E-cadherin.