Integrin-mediated function of Rab GTPases in cancer progression

• Published in: Molecular cancer Vol. 9; no. 1; p. 312
• Main Authors: Subramani, Dhatchayini, Alahari, Suresh K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 09.12.2010; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Animals; Cancer; Cell adhesion & migration; Cellular biology; Development and progression; Guanosine triphosphatase; Humans; Integrins; Integrins - genetics; Integrins - metabolism; Membranes; Models, Biological; Motility; Neoplasms - enzymology; Neoplasms - genetics; Neoplasms - metabolism; Physiological aspects; Proteins; rab GTP-Binding Proteins - genetics; rab GTP-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Regulation; Review; Signal Transduction - genetics; Signal Transduction - physiology; United States
• ISSN: 1476-4598; 1476-4598
• DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-9-312

The RAS (rat sarcoma) superfamily of small GTPases is broadly subdivided into five groups: Ras, Rho, Rab, Ran, and Arf. Rab family proteins are important in regulating signal transduction and cellular processes such as differentiation, proliferation, vesicle transport, nuclear assembly, and cytoskeleton formation. However, some Rab proteins have been reported to be necessary for the adhesion and migration of cancer cells. Although Ras and Rho family members have been strongly implicated in cancer progression, knowledge of Rabs action in this regard is limited. Some reports have also linked Rab GTPases with cancer cell migration and invasiveness. This review discusses the implications of the involvement of Rabs in malignant transformation and cancer therapy through integrin-mediated signaling events, with particular emphasis on breast cancer.