Cadherins and the mammary gland.
Cadherin cell-cell adhesion proteins are critical for the formation of tissues from single cells. E-and P-cadherin play important roles in the architecture and function of the normal mammary gland. In breast cancers, the expression, or lack thereof, of E-cadherin can differentiate tumor types, whereas the misexpression of either P-cadherin or N-cadherin can be a marker of poor prognosis or increased malignancy, respectively. Additional research is needed to more precisely define the roles of both classical and desmosomal cadherins and their downstream signaling events, in the development and malignant behavior of breast cancers.
Knudsen
Karen A
KA
Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, PA 19096, USA. knudsenk@mlhs.org
Wheelock
Margaret J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
D015820:Cadherins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins