What Role Do Adhesion Molecules Play in Cancer Cell Migration?
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) such as integrins, cadherins, and selectins are critical for the adhesion of cells to the extracellular matrix and to other cells. In cancer, the expression of these molecules is often altered, leading to reduced cell-cell adhesion and increased cell-matrix adhesion, which facilitates cell migration. For example, the downregulation of E-cadherin is commonly associated with increased invasiveness and metastatic potential in many types of cancer.
