Cell adhesion molecules in breast cancer invasion and metastasis

Abstract

Metastasis occurs through a series of sequential steps, all of which a metastatic cell must successfully complete in order to establish growth at the secondary site. Cell adhesion molecules including the cadherins, immunoglobulin superfamily, selectins, and integrins play important roles in tumor metastasis. Mucins can also be involved in tumor cell adhesion. In this chapter we review the current knowledge of these groups of cell adhesion molecules in breast cancer.