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Role of tight junctions in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of cancer cells.

Authors :
Kyuno, Daisuke
Takasawa, Akira
Kikuchi, Shin
Takemasa, Ichiro
Osanai, Makoto
Kojima, Takashi
Source :
BBA: Biomembranes. Mar2021, Vol. 1863 Issue 3, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an essential step in cancer progression. Epithelial cells possess several types of cell-cell junctions, and tight junctions are known to play important roles in maintaining the epithelial program. EMT is characterized by a loss of epithelial markers, including E-cadherin and tight junction proteins. Somewhat surprisingly, the evidence is accumulating that upregulated expression of tight junction proteins plays an important role in the EMT of cancer cells. Tight junctions have distinct tissue-specific and cancer-specific regulatory mechanisms, enabling them to play different roles in EMT. Tight junctions and related signaling pathways are attractive targets for cancer treatments; signal transduction inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies for tight junction proteins may be used to suppress EMT, invasion, and metastasis. Here we review the role of bicellular and tricellular tight junction proteins during EMT. Further investigation of regulatory mechanisms of tight junctions during EMT in cancer cells will inform the development of biomarkers for predicting prognosis as well as novel therapies. • Several tight junction molecules promote or suppress EMT of cancer cells. • Tight junction proteins regulate intracellular signaling depending on their localization and cancer type. • Tight junction proteins on the basolateral membrane and in the nucleus have different roles and may promote EMT of cancer. • Tight junctions and related signaling are promising targets of diagnostic and therapeutic tools against cancer. • Specific antibodies to the extracellular domain of claudins may become novel anti-cancer drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00052736
Volume :
1863
Issue :
3
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
BBA: Biomembranes
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
148139167
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbamem.2020.183503