Cell polarity proteins and cancer

Abstract Cell polarity is essential in many biological processes and required for development as well as maintenance of tissue integrity. Loss of polarity is considered both a hallmark and precondition for human cancer. Three conserved polarity protein complexes regulate different modes of polarity...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Seminars in cancer biology 2012-06, Vol.22 (3), p.208-215
Main Authors: Ellenbroek, Saskia I.J, Iden, Sandra, Collard, John G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Cancer
Cell polarity
Cell Polarity - physiology
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - metabolism
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - pathology
Danio rerio
Data processing
Drosophila
Epithelial cells
Epithelial Cells - physiology
Gene Expression
Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine
Homeostasis
Humans
Mammalian cells
Membrane Proteins - physiology
Metastasis
Neoplasm Metastasis - physiopathology
Polarity
Polarity protein
Reviews
Signal Transduction - physiology
Tumor Suppressor Proteins - physiology
Tumorigenesis
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Summary:Abstract Cell polarity is essential in many biological processes and required for development as well as maintenance of tissue integrity. Loss of polarity is considered both a hallmark and precondition for human cancer. Three conserved polarity protein complexes regulate different modes of polarity that are conserved throughout numerous cell types and species. These complexes are the Crumbs, Par and Scribble complex. Given the importance of cell polarity for normal tissue homeostasis, aberrant polarity signaling is suggested to contribute to the multistep processes of human cancer. Most human cancers are formed from epithelial cells. Evidence confirming the roles for polarity proteins in different phases of the oncogenic trajectory comes from functional studies using mammalian cells as well as Drosophila and zebrafish models. Furthermore, several reports have revealed aberrant expression and localization of polarity proteins in different human tumors. In this review we will give an overview on the current data available that couple polarity signaling to tumorigenesis, particularly in epithelial cells.
ISSN:1044-579X
1096-3650
DOI:10.1016/j.semcancer.2012.02.012