Abstract
Extracellular matrix, via its receptors the integrins, has emerged as a crucial factor in cancer development. The α2β1 integrin is a major collagen receptor that is widely expressed and known to promote cell migration and control tissue homeostasis. Growing evidence suggests that it can be a key pathway in cancer. Recent studies have shown that α2β1 integrin is a regulator of cancer metastasis either by promoting or inhibiting the dissemination process of cancer cells. The α2β1 integrin signaling can also enhance tumor angiogenesis. Emerging evidence supports a role for α2β1 integrin in cancer chemoresistance especially in hematological malignancies originating from the T cell lineage. In addition, α2β1 integrin has been associated with cancer stem cells. In this review, we will discuss the complex role of α2β1 integrin in these processes. Collagen is a major matrix protein of the tumor microenvironment and thus, understanding how α2β1 integrin regulates cancer pathogenesis is likely to lead to new therapeutic approaches and agents for cancer treatment.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 145-153 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Seminars in cancer biology |
Volume | 35 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2015 |
Keywords
- Alpha2beta1 integrin
- Chemoresistance
- Collagen
- Hematological malignancies
- Metastasis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cancer Research