1. ¹John and Rebecca Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0912, USA
2. ²Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0912, USA

Correspondence: Dr J Varner, John and Rebecca Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0912, USA. E-mail: jvarner@ucsd.edu

Received 1 October 2003; Revised 13 November 2003; Accepted 17 November 2003.

Abstract

The integrin family of cell adhesion proteins promotes the attachment and migration of cells on the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). Through signals transduced upon integrin ligation by ECM proteins or immunoglobulin superfamily molecules, this family of proteins plays key roles in regulating tumour growth and metastasis as well as tumour angiogenesis. Several integrins play key roles in promoting tumour angiogenesis and tumour metastasis. Antagonists of several integrins (51, v3 and v5) are now under evaluation in clinical trials to determine their potential as therapeutics for cancer and other diseases.