Mechanism of integrin in epithelial-mesenchymal transition / 医学研究生学报

ABSTRACT

Invasion and migration are distinctive features of the malignant tumors.Studies showed that epithelial-mesenchymal transition ( EMT) , a conversion process with the loss of epithelial cell features and the gain of mesenchymal phenotype has been recog-nized as a key element of invasion and migration of malignancy.When EMT occurs, the downregulation of E-cadherins and the loss of adhesion in extracellular matrix play a critical role which are regarded as important indicators in the assessment of EMT.The latest re-searches indicated that integrin, one of the cell adhesion molecules family, was involved in EMT directly or indirectly through mediating either adhesion among cells, extracellular matrix or signal pathways by activating multiple kinases tyrosine phosphorylation cascade. The relationship between EMT and integrin is summarized in this article.