title: The motile breast cancer phenotype roles of proteoglycans/glycosaminoglycans.
abstract: The consecutive stages of cancer growth and dissemination are obligatorily perpetrated through specific interactions of the tumor cells with their microenvironment. Importantly, cell-associated and tumor microenvironment glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)/proteoglycan (PG) content and distribution are markedly altered during tumor pathogenesis and progression. GAGs and PGs perform multiple functions in specific stages of the metastatic cascade due to their defined structure and ability to interact with both ligands and receptors regulating cancer pathogenesis. Thus, GAGs/PGs may modulate downstream signaling of key cellular mediators including insulin growth factor receptor (IGFR), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), estrogen receptors (ERs), or Wnt members. In the present review we will focus on breast cancer motility in correlation with their GAG/PG content and critically discuss mechanisms involved. Furthermore, new approaches involving GAGs/PGs as potential prognostic/diagnostic markers or as therapeutic agents for cancer-related pathologies are being proposed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nikitovic
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kouvidi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Kallirroi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Voudouri
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Aikaterini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berdiaki
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche e Morfologiche, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via J.H. Dunant 5, 21100 Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Evgenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karousou
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche e Morfologiche, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via J.H. Dunant 5, 21100 Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Passi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: George N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Tzanakakis
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011509:Proteoglycans