Expression of Inappropriate Cadherins in Human Breast Carcinomas-CDA
Abstract
E-cadherin is a transmembrane glycoprotein that mediates calcium-dependent, homotypic cell-cell adhesion and plays a role in maintaining the normal phenotype of epithelial cells. Decreased expression of E-cadherin has been correlated with increased invasiveness of breast cancer. In other systems, inappropriate expression of a non-epithelial cadherin, such as N-cadherin, by an epithelial cell has been shown to down-regulate E-cadherin expression and to contribute to a cell motility. In this study we explored the possibility that expression of non- epithelial cadherins may be correlated with increased cellular motility and invasion in human breast cancer cells. We present data showing that N-cadherin promotes cell motility and invasion in breast cancer cells; that decreased expression of E-cadherin does not necessarily correlate with invasion in breast cancer cells; that N- cadherin expression correlates both with invasion and motility in breast cancer cells and likely plays a direct role in promoting motility; that forced expression of E-cadherin in invasive, N-cadherin positive cells does not reduce their motility or invasive capacity; that forced expression of N-cadherin in non-invasive, E-cadherin- positive cells produces an invasive cell even though these cells continue to express high levels of E-cadherin; and that N-cadherin-dependent motility may be mediated by fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA382945
Entities
People
- Margaret Wheelock
Organizations
- University of Toledo