title: Ductal barriers in mammary epithelium.
abstract: Tissue barriers play an integral role in the biology and pathobiology of mammary ductal epithelium. In normal breast physiology, tight and adherens junctions undergo dynamic changes in permeability in response to hormonal and other stimuli, while several of their proteins are directly involved in mammary tumorigenesis. This review describes first the structure of mammary ductal epithelial barriers and their role in normal mammary development, examining the cyclical changes in response to puberty, pregnancy, lactation and involution. It then examines the role of adherens and tight junctions and the participation of their constituent proteins in mammary tumorigenic functions such as migration, invasion and metastasis. Finally, it discusses the potential of these adhesion proteins as both prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery; Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Mark B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery; Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Arnold Dk
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery; Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hopkins
keywords: adhesion; breast cancer; breast ductal epithelium; breast epithelial barrier; breast tumorigenesis; hormones; mammary epithelium; metastasis; tight junctions