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E-cadherin in contact inhibition and cancer

Abstract

E-cadherin is a key component of the adherens junctions that are integral in cell adhesion and maintaining epithelial phenotype of cells. Homophilic E-cadherin binding between cells is important in mediating contact inhibition of proliferation when cells reach confluence. Loss of E-cadherin expression results in loss of contact inhibition and is associated with increased cell motility and advanced stages of cancer. In this review we discuss the role of E-cadherin and its downstream signaling in regulation of contact inhibition and the development and progression of cancer.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been supported by the grant R01CA207115-02 awarded to Dr. Barry Gumbiner from the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health.

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Mendonsa, A.M., Na, TY. & Gumbiner, B.M. E-cadherin in contact inhibition and cancer. Oncogene 37, 4769–4780 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-018-0304-2

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