¹Department of Clinical-Biological Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics, Centre for Biomedicine, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 28, CH – 4058 Basel, Switzerland

Correspondence: Professor G Christofori, E-mail: gerhard.christofori@unibas.ch

Received 30 June 2006; Revised 10 November 2006; Accepted 10 November 2006; Published online 19 December 2006.

Abstract

Podoplanin is a small mucin-like transmembrane protein, widely expressed in various specialised cell types throughout the body. Here, we revisit the mechanism of podoplanin-mediated tumour invasion. We compare molecular pathways leading to single and collective cell invasion and discuss novel distinct concepts of tumour cell invasion.