Dysfunction of the E-cadherin/catenin cell adhesion cascade in epithelial cancers (Review)

  • Authors:
    • I Raftopoulos
    • G Kouraklis
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 1, 1996     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.3.4.793
  • Pages: 793-803
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Abstract

The E-cadherin/catenin complex is the major adhesion system that maintains the intercellular contacts in all epithelial cells. E-cadherin mediates Ca++-dependent, homotypic cell-cell adhesion and associates with the cytoskeleton through the interaction with three cytoplasmic proteins, called catenins. Dysfunction of the E-cadherin/catenin complex occurs frequently in the epithelial cancers and is correlated with dedifferentiation, advanced stage and poor prognosis. Additionally, loss of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin expression in epithelial cells in vitro, is associated with fibroblastic morphology and increased invasiveness. E-cadherin and alpha-catenin might be regarded as tumor suppressor molecules with potential diagnostic and prognostic value in epithelial cancers.

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July 1996
Volume 3 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Spandidos Publications style
Raftopoulos I and Kouraklis G: Dysfunction of the E-cadherin/catenin cell adhesion cascade in epithelial cancers (Review). Oncol Rep 3: 793-803, 1996.
APA
Raftopoulos, I., & Kouraklis, G. (1996). Dysfunction of the E-cadherin/catenin cell adhesion cascade in epithelial cancers (Review). Oncology Reports, 3, 793-803. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.3.4.793
MLA
Raftopoulos, I., Kouraklis, G."Dysfunction of the E-cadherin/catenin cell adhesion cascade in epithelial cancers (Review)". Oncology Reports 3.4 (1996): 793-803.
Chicago
Raftopoulos, I., Kouraklis, G."Dysfunction of the E-cadherin/catenin cell adhesion cascade in epithelial cancers (Review)". Oncology Reports 3, no. 4 (1996): 793-803. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.3.4.793