What Mechanisms Lead to E-Cadherin Dysfunction in Cancer?
Several mechanisms can lead to the loss or dysfunction of E-Cadherin in cancer:
Genetic Mutations: Mutations in the CDH1 gene, which encodes E-Cadherin, can result in the production of non-functional proteins. Promoter Methylation: Hypermethylation of the CDH1 promoter region can lead to the silencing of E-Cadherin expression. Transcriptional Repression: Transcription factors such as Snail, Slug, and Zeb1 can repress CDH1 transcription, reducing E-Cadherin levels. Protein Degradation: Increased activity of proteolytic enzymes can lead to the degradation of E-Cadherin proteins.
