What role do cell adhesion molecules play in cancer?
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are critical in maintaining tissue architecture by mediating cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions. In cancer, the dysregulation of CAMs can lead to increased cell motility, invasion, and metastasis. For example, the loss of E-cadherin is often associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that enhances the invasive potential of cancer cells.
