The critical regulator of polarity, Par6, is a key member of a multi-component polarity complex that controls a variety of cellular processes such as asymmetric cell division, establishment of epithelial apico-basal polarity, and polarized cell migration. Recently, we have come to understand how regulation of the Par6 interactome by extracellular cues such as integrin and transforming growth factor beta signalling regulates cell motility and tight junction dissolution. These studies have begun to elucidate how signalling to the polarity complex might regulate pathological processes such as tumour cell invasion and metastasis.