Integrin alpha2 on the surface of tumor cells alter sites of metastases

The finding that integrin α2 expression on tumor cells confers increased metastatic potential to certain tissue sites via direct physical adhesion, as well as the finding of the activation of an intracellular signaling cascade linked to integrin α2 that yields an invasion and growth phenotype is novel. These findings can potentially be exploited to increase our knowledge of which patients are at higher risk of forming (hepatic) metastases, thus aiding our ability to discriminate proper adjuvant therapy besed on molecular phenotyping. Additionally, expression of this cell surface molecule may be blocked, or the internal signaling cascade that results from binding of this cell surface molecule may be blocked to potentially decrease the metastatic potential of cancers in a therapeutic fashion.

integrin

metastasis

cancer

liver