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Review
. 2018 Sep 18:7:F1000 Faculty Rev-1488.
doi: 10.12688/f1000research.15782.1. eCollection 2018.

Cell-cell adhesion: linking Wnt/β-catenin signaling with partial EMT and stemness traits in tumorigenesis

Sayon Basu  1 , Sanith Cheriyamundath  1 , Avri Ben-Ze'ev  1
Affiliations
Review

Cell-cell adhesion: linking Wnt/β-catenin signaling with partial EMT and stemness traits in tumorigenesis

Sayon Basu et al. F1000Res. .

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Cell-cell adhesion; beta-catenin signaling; tumorigenesis.

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Conflict of interest statement

No competing interests were disclosed.No competing interests were disclosed.No competing interests were disclosed.No competing interests were disclosed.No competing interests were disclosed.

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