title: E-cadherin's dark side: possible role in tumor progression.
abstract: In the context of cancer, E-cadherin has traditionally been categorized as a tumor suppressor, given its essential role in the formation of proper intercellular junctions, and its downregulation in the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in epithelial tumor progression. Germline or somatic mutations in the E-cadherin gene (CDH1) or downregulation by epigenetic mechanisms have been described in a small subset of epithelial cancers. However, recent evidence also points toward a promoting role of E-cadherin in several aspects of tumor progression. This includes preserved (or increased) E-cadherin expression in microemboli of inflammatory breast carcinoma, a possible "mesenchymal to epithelial transition" (MET) in ovarian carcinoma, collective cell invasion in some epithelial cancers, a recent association of E-cadherin expression with a more aggressive brain tumor subset, as well as the intriguing possibility of E-cadherin involvement in specific signaling networks in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus. In this review we address a lesser-known, positive role for E-cadherin in cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Fausto J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Lewis-Tuffin
authors.forename: Panos Z
authors.initials: PZ
authors.lastname: Anastasiadis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins