Beyond E-cadherin: roles of other cadherin superfamily members in cancer.
Loss of cadherin 1 (CDH1; also known as epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin)) is used for the diagnosis and prognosis of epithelial cancers. However, it should not be ignored that the superfamily of transmembrane cadherin proteins encompasses more than 100 members in humans, including other classical cadherins, numerous protocadherins and cadherin-related proteins. Elucidation of their roles in suppression versus initiation or progression of various tumour types is a young but fascinating field of molecular cancer research. These cadherins are very diverse in both structure and function, and their mutual interactions seem to influence biological responses in complex and versatile ways.
Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium.The Inflammation Research Center, VIB, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium.
Frans
F
van Roy
D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D005810:Multigene Family; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D015820:Cadherins