Integrin signaling and lung cancer

Cell Adh Migr. 2010 Jan-Mar;4(1):124-9. doi: 10.4161/cam.4.1.10976. Epub 2010 Jan 16.

Abstract

The poor prognosis of most non small cell lung carcinomas is due to their ability to efficiently invade surrounding tissues and blood vessels, finally metastasizing to distant organs. Integrin mediated adhesive interaction with the surrounding extracellular matrix is a key limiting step in the regulation of the invasive properties of several cancer cell types. Here, we examine the rising evidences about the role that integrins can play in the physiopathology of non small cell lung carcinomas by regulating cell adhesion as well as the activation of growth factors and the traffic of their cognate receptors. Modulation of the signaling pathways controlled by integrins in lung cancer cells might offer the opportunity to design and develop new drugs that might be successfully combined with conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Integrins / metabolism*
  • Lung Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*

Substances

  • Integrins
  • integrin-linked kinase
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases