Differential cadherin expression: Potential markers for epithelial to mesenchymal transformation during tumor progression

Georgia Agiostratidou, James Hulit, Greg R. Phillips, Rachel B. Hazan

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    The cadherin family of adhesion molecules regulates cell-cell interactions during development and in tissues. The prototypical cadherin, E-cadherin, is responsible for maintaining interactions of epithelial cells and is frequently downregulated during tumor progression. N-cadherin, normally found in fibroblasts and neural cells, can be upregulated during tumor progression and can increase the invasiveness of tumor cells. The proinvasive effects of N-cadherin expression in tumor cells result from two possible mechanisms: promotion of tumor cell interactions with the N-cadherin-expressing microenvironment, or enhancement of signaling via the fibroblast growth factor receptor. The downregulation of E-cadherin and the upregulation of N-cadherin in tumors may be a result of an epithelial to mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of tumor cells, which is notoriously difficult to detect in vivo. Double labeling of individual tumors with specific E- and N-cadherin antibodies suggests that EMT can occur heterogeneously and/or transiently within an invasive tumor. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)127-133
    Number of pages6
    JournalJournal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia
    Volume12
    Issue number2-3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Sept 2007

    Keywords

    • Adhesion
    • Breast cancer
    • Invasion
    • Metastasis
    • Signaling

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