Involvement of alpha6beta4 integrin in the mechanisms that regulate breast cancer progression.
Integrin alpha6beta4 is mostly expressed in epithelial tissues and endothelial and Schwann cells. Expression of alpha6beta4 is increased in many epithelial tumours, implicating its involvement in tumour malignancy. Moreover, this integrin activates several key signalling molecules in carcinoma cells, but its ability to activate the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway is among the mechanisms by which alpha6beta4 integrin regulates tumour behaviour. In this review we discuss the biological and clinical features of alpha6beta4 integrin that allow it to promote tumour survival and progression of mammary tumours.
Bon
Giulia
G
Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Department of Experimental Oncology, Molecular Oncogenesis Laboratory, Via delle Messi d'Oro, 00158 Rome, Italy.
Folgiero
Valentina
V
Di Carlo
Selene
S
Sacchi
Ada
A
Falcioni
Rita
R
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D002465:Cell Movement; D002470:Cell Survival; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D039161:Integrin alpha6beta4 / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D039161:Integrin alpha6beta4