title: Ezrin, a key component in tumor metastasis.
abstract: Identification of the key regulatory molecules in metastasis is crucial for understanding tumor dissemination and for the development of novel interventions. The recent identification of ezrin as a necessary component in the metastasis of osteosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma is, therefore, an important advance. Ezrin has been implicated in many roles, for example, as a conduit for signals between metastasis-associated cell-surface molecules and signal transduction components. This suggests that ezrin and, potentially, other members of the ERM (ezrin-radixin-moesin) family have key roles in the coordination of signals and cellular complexes that are required for the successful metastasis of these and other malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Population Genetics, CCR/NCI/NIH, 41 Library Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-5060, USA. hunterk@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Kent W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Hunter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000099149:Ezrin
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D000099149:Ezrin; C071058:moesin; C071776:radixin