title: The role of beta 1 integrins in tumors.
abstract: Members of the beta 1 subfamily of integrins contribute to cell adhesion, cytoskeletal organization and signal transduction processes. In some transformed cell lines and tumors, a correlation has been established between the level of expression of the alpha 5/beta 1 fibronectin receptor and neoplastic behavior. In other instances, normal and neoplastic tissue differ in beta 1 integrin expression or sub-cellular distribution. The level of expression of beta 1 integrins in tumor cells may affect tumor growth properties in several ways, including: (a) effects on anchorage dependence of growth; (b) direct signaling processes; (c) organization of the extracellular matrix and presentation of matrix bound growth factors; (d) effects on the functions of host defense cells. Thus the interplay between integrin expression and tumor behavior is complex and might be viewed as a series of interactive feedback loops rather than in terms of a straightforward cause and effect relationship.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill 27599.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Juliano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019012:Integrin beta1; D016023:Integrins / Q000502:physiology*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D019012:Integrin beta1; D016023:Integrins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta