Role of Rho-family proteins in cell adhesion and cancer

Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2003 Oct;15(5):583-9. doi: 10.1016/s0955-0674(03)00098-x.

Abstract

Rho-family proteins control signalling pathways that regulate a wide range of biological processes. In vitro studies implicating Rho proteins in cell adhesion, migration, transcriptional activation, cell-cycle progression and transformation suggested roles for these proteins in the formation and progression of tumours in vivo. Studies using different recombinant mouse models have recently confirmed this idea. Rho signalling pathways crosstalk with different oncogenic signalling cascades, including those downstream of Ras and Wnt, and contribute to various aspects of tumourigenesis, including survival, growth and progression of tumour cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism*
  • Cell Adhesion / physiology*
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism*
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Genes, ras / physiology
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mutation
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Skin Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphoma Invasion and Metastasis-inducing Protein 1
  • Trans-Activators
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Zebrafish Proteins*
  • beta Catenin
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • CTNNB1 protein, mouse
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • T-Lymphoma Invasion and Metastasis-inducing Protein 1
  • Tiam1 protein, mouse
  • Trans-Activators
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins