The role of cell adhesion molecules in the progression of colorectal cancer and the development of liver metastasis.
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) play a significant role in the metastatic potential of colorectal cancer and thus mediate the prognosis of this common malignancy. The downregulation of cadherins and catenins facilitates tumour cell detachment from the primary site, while the expression of selectins, integrins and members of the immunoglobulin superfamily may support neoplastic progression, intravasation and malignant cell attachment to foreign tissue, leading to the development of metastases. The liver is the main host organ of colorectal metastatic lesions. The process of hepatic invasion originates in the sinusoids, where non-parenchymal cells interact with metastasising ones, through the expression of numerous CAMs, following complex molecular pathways. Concurrently, the selective expression of cell adhesion molecules on different organs and endothelia, in conjunction with the presence of dissimilar adhesion ligands on various colorectal cancer cell lines, suggest that CAMs may also mediate the selection of the host organ, for the development of distant colorectal metastases.
Paschos
Konstantinos A
KA
Liver Research Group, Section of Oncology, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, The University of Sheffield, Glossop Rd, S10 2JF Sheffield, UK. K.Paschos@sheffield.ac.uk
Canovas
David
D
Bird
Nigel C
NC
D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D051177:Catenins / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary*; D019087:Selectins / Q000378:metabolism
D015820:Cadherins; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D051177:Catenins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016023:Integrins; D019087:Selectins