Cell-cell adhesion: linking Wnt/β-catenin signaling with partial EMT and stemness traits in tumorigenesis [version 1; peer review: 4 approved]

• Published in: F1000 research Vol. 7; p. 1488
• Main Authors: Basu, Sayon, Cheriyamundath, Sanith, Ben-Ze'ev, Avri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Faculty of 1000 Ltd 2018; F1000 Research Limited; F1000 Research Ltd
• Subjects: Breast cancer; Cancer; Cell adhesion; Cell adhesion & migration; Embryogenesis; Extracellular matrix; Growth factors; Invasiveness; Kinases; Mesenchyme; Metastases; Metastasis; Molecular modelling; Motility; Review; Stem cells; Transcription factors; Tumorigenesis; Wnt protein; β-catenin; beta-catenin signaling; Cell-cell adhesion; tumorigenesis
• ISSN: 2046-1402; 2046-1402
• DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.15782.1

Changes in cell adhesion and motility are considered key elements in determining the development of invasive and metastatic tumors. Co-opting the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, which is known to occur during embryonic development, and the associated changes in cell adhesion properties in cancer cells are considered major routes for tumor progression. More recent in vivo studies in tumor tissues and circulating tumor cell clusters suggest a stepwise EMT process rather than an "all-or-none" transition during tumor progression. In this commentary, we addressed the molecular mechanisms underlying the changes in cell adhesion and motility and adhesion-mediated signaling and their relationships to the partial EMT states and the acquisition of stemness traits by cancer cells.