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Multifaceted Roles of Integrins in Breast Cancer Metastasis

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Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Malignant breast cancer can be a debilitating disease due to metastasis to tissues such as brain or bone. The metastatic process involves the invasion of tumor cells into the adjacent tissue, followed by systemic dissemination and colonization of secondary organs. These processes require interactions between tumor cells and a changing microenvironment, which drive cell proliferation, migration, invasion and colonization, as well as promoting cell survival. The integrin family of cell adhesion receptors has been shown to play a critical role in all of these processes, consistent with their extracellular matrix binding properties. Experiments in cultured epithelial cells and in vivo models have demonstrated that integrins can promote various stages of metastasis by modulating the effects of growth factor receptors, extracellular proteases and chemotactic molecules. Integrins may therefore play a pivotal role in multiple mechanisms of metastasis. As a result, they represent promising targets for effective treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

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Abbreviations

EGF:

epidermal growth factor

FAK:

focal adhesion kinase

ILK:

integrin-linked kinase

MMP:

matrix metalloproteinase

EMT:

epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

uPA:

urokinase plasminogen activator

OPN:

osteopontin

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Acknowledgements

The authors apologize for any relevant published work not included due to size limitations compared to such an extensive body of work. DEW is funded by a fellowship from the US Department of Defense. WJM is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance (CBCRA), US Department of Defense, and the National Institutes of Health.

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  1. Donald E. White

    Present address: Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Oncology Group, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 1A1, Canada

    Donald E. White & William J. Muller

  2. Departments of Biochemistry and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 1A1, Canada

    William J. Muller

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Correspondence to William J. Muller.

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White, D.E., Muller, W.J. Multifaceted Roles of Integrins in Breast Cancer Metastasis. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 12, 135–142 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-007-9045-5

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