THE ADHESION MOLECULES AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN CANCER DEVELOPMENT

Riabtseva O.D., Lukianova N.Y.

The literature data of importance of adhesion molecules (A) in cancer pathogenesis are summarized. The structure and function of these molecules, the mechanisms of disorder of adhesion under cancer growth is discussed. The role of adhesion changes in metastasis and manifestation of tumor heterogeneity according to metastasis potential is mentioned. CD44 and CD24 as potential markers of cancer stem cells are characterized. The research of adhesion molecules is starting point for study of inter-cell communication changes in cancer progression, epithelial-mesenchymal and mesenchymal- epithelial transition, for characteristic of invasive and metastatic phenotypes of cancer cells and investigations of new therapeutic approaches.