The role of cell adhesion molecules in the progression of colorectal cancer and the development of liver metastasis

KA Paschos, D Canovas, NC Bird - Cellular signalling, 2009 - Elsevier
KA Paschos, D Canovas, NC Bird
Cellular signalling, 2009Elsevier
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) play a significant role in the metastatic potential of
colorectal cancer and thus mediate the prognosis of this common malignancy. The
downregulation of cadherins and catenins facilitates tumour cell detachment from the
primary site, while the expression of selectins, integrins and members of the immunoglobulin
superfamily may support neoplastic progression, intravasation and malignant cell
attachment to foreign tissue, leading to the development of metastases. The liver is the main …
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) play a significant role in the metastatic potential of colorectal cancer and thus mediate the prognosis of this common malignancy. The downregulation of cadherins and catenins facilitates tumour cell detachment from the primary site, while the expression of selectins, integrins and members of the immunoglobulin superfamily may support neoplastic progression, intravasation and malignant cell attachment to foreign tissue, leading to the development of metastases. The liver is the main host organ of colorectal metastatic lesions. The process of hepatic invasion originates in the sinusoids, where non-parenchymal cells interact with metastasising ones, through the expression of numerous CAMs, following complex molecular pathways. Concurrently, the selective expression of cell adhesion molecules on different organs and endothelia, in conjunction with the presence of dissimilar adhesion ligands on various colorectal cancer cell lines, suggest that CAMs may also mediate the selection of the host organ, for the development of distant colorectal metastases.
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