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Tetraspanins in human epithelial malignancies
Author(s) -
Romanska Hanna M,
Berditchevski Fedor
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.2779
Subject(s) - tetraspanin , transmembrane protein , carcinogenesis , biology , cell adhesion , microbiology and biotechnology , membrane protein , immunoglobulin superfamily , cancer research , cancer , cell , receptor , cell adhesion molecule , genetics , membrane
Transmembrane proteins of the tetraspanin superfamily are implicated in a broad spectrum of cellular processes in many biological systems in both health and disease. Tetraspanins form specialized membrane microdomains on the cell surface which control cell proliferation and migration through various adhesion and growth factor receptors. Recent extensive research has shown that expression of various tetraspanins and their associated partners is deregulated in human malignancies. Although, for the most part, the degree of involvement of tetraspanins in carcinogenesis remains to be established, increasing evidence suggests that these proteins might be of clinical significance in at least some malignancies. Here we provide a comprehensive review of the existing data on expression of tetraspanins in breast cancer and other human epithelial tumours, with an emphasis on their value as potential prognostic markers. Copyright © 2010 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.