title: Netrin-1: A regulator of cancer cell motility?
abstract: Netrins form a family of secreted and membrane-associated proteins, netrin-1 being the prototype and most investigated member of the family. The major physiological functions of netrin-1 lie in the regulation of axonal development as well as morphogenesis of different branched organs, by promoting the polarity of migratory/invasive front of the cell. On the other hand, netrin-1 acts as a factor preventing cell apoptosis. These events are mediated via a range of different receptors, including UNC5 and DCC-families. Cancer cells often employ developmental pathways to gain survival and motility advantage. Within recent years, there has been increasing number of observations of upregulation of netrin-1 expression in different forms of cancer, and the increased expression of netrin-1 has been linked to its functions as a survival and invasion promoting factor. We review here recent advances in the netrin-1 related developmental processes that may be of special interest in tumor biology, in addition to the known functions of netrin-1 in tumor biology with special focus on cancer cell migration.
authors: Translational Cancer Biology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland; The Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Finland.
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Ylivinkka
authors: Translational Cancer Biology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland; The Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Finland.
authors: Jorma
authors: J
authors: Keski-Oja
authors: Translational Cancer Biology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: marko.hyytiainen@helsinki.fi.
authors: Marko
authors: M
authors: Hyytiäinen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000075388:Netrin-1; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C000617351:NTN1 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D000075388:Netrin-1
keywords: Cancer; Cell motility; Cell polarity; Development; Invasion; Netrin