Dishonorable discharge: the oncogenic roles of cleaved E-cadherin fragments

JM David, AK Rajasekaran - Cancer research, 2012 - AACR
JM David, AK Rajasekaran
Cancer research, 2012AACR
Strong cell–cell interactions represent a major barrier against cancer cell mobility, and loss
of intercellular adhesion by E-cadherin is a fundamental change that occurs during the
progression of cancer to invasive disease. However, some aggressive carcinomas retain
characteristics of differentiated epithelial cells, including E-cadherin expression. Emerging
evidence indicates that proteolysis of E-cadherin generates fragments that promote tumor
growth, survival, and motility, suggesting that E-cadherin cleavage converts this tumor …
Abstract
Strong cell–cell interactions represent a major barrier against cancer cell mobility, and loss of intercellular adhesion by E-cadherin is a fundamental change that occurs during the progression of cancer to invasive disease. However, some aggressive carcinomas retain characteristics of differentiated epithelial cells, including E-cadherin expression. Emerging evidence indicates that proteolysis of E-cadherin generates fragments that promote tumor growth, survival, and motility, suggesting that E-cadherin cleavage converts this tumor suppressor into an oncogenic factor. In this review we discuss the emerging roles of cleaved E-cadherin fragments as modulators of cancer progression, and explore the translational and clinical implications of this research. Cancer Res; 72(12); 2917–23. ©2012 AACR.
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