Cohen M B, Griebling T L, Ahaghotu C A, Rokhlin O W, Ross J S
Department of Pathology, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52245, USA.
Am J Clin Pathol. 1997 Jan;107(1):56-63. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/107.1.56.
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are important in cell-cell interaction and interactions between cells and components of the extracellular matrix. CAMs have been associated with invasion and metastasis in a wide variety of human malignancies, including tumors of the genitourinary tract. Cadherins are transmembrane glycoproteins that bind cells by homophilic, homotypic interactions. Loss of expression of E-cadherin has been associated with dedifferentiation, invasion, and metastasis in prostate cancer and transitional cell neoplasia of the urinary bladder. CD44, a family of transmembrane glycoproteins principally involved in cell-extracellular matrix interactions, also has been associated with invasion and metastasis in urologic malignancies. Through alternative splicing, a variety of CD44 isoforms can be expressed that can undergo extensive posttranslational modification. CD44 variants have been associated with metastasis in a variety of human malignancies, particularly in the gastrointestinal system. Although loss of expression of CD44 standard form has been associated with aggressive prostate gland and bladder cancers, no specific isoform has been associated with metastasis of these neoplasms. Integrins are transmembrane glycoproteins with wide cellular distribution that bind a variety of extracellular matrix components. Integrins have been studied extensively in prostate cancer in which altered integrin expression has been associated with malignant prostatic epithelium. Additional adhesion molecules that have been studied to a variable degree in urologic malignancies include selectins and the immunoglobulin super-family. CAMs are fundamental to diverse biologic processes and appear capable of regulating intracellular signaling events that appear to have significant importance in human malignancy, including cancers of the urogenital tract.
细胞黏附分子（CAMs）在细胞间相互作用以及细胞与细胞外基质成分之间的相互作用中起着重要作用。CAMs与多种人类恶性肿瘤的侵袭和转移相关，包括泌尿生殖道肿瘤。钙黏蛋白是通过同种亲和、同型相互作用结合细胞的跨膜糖蛋白。E-钙黏蛋白表达缺失与前列腺癌和膀胱移行细胞瘤的去分化、侵袭及转移有关。CD44是一族主要参与细胞与细胞外基质相互作用的跨膜糖蛋白，也与泌尿生殖系统恶性肿瘤的侵袭和转移相关。通过可变剪接，可以表达多种CD44异构体，它们可经历广泛的翻译后修饰。CD44变体与多种人类恶性肿瘤的转移相关，尤其是在胃肠道系统。虽然CD44标准型的表达缺失与侵袭性前列腺癌和膀胱癌有关，但尚无特定异构体与这些肿瘤的转移相关。整合素是广泛分布于细胞表面的跨膜糖蛋白，可结合多种细胞外基质成分。整合素在前列腺癌中已得到广泛研究，其中整合素表达改变与恶性前列腺上皮有关。在泌尿生殖系统恶性肿瘤中还不同程度地研究了其他黏附分子，包括选择素和免疫球蛋白超家族。CAMs是多种生物学过程的基础，似乎能够调节细胞内信号转导事件，而这些事件在人类恶性肿瘤（包括泌尿生殖道癌症）中似乎具有重要意义。
