Integrins, Immunology

The role of integrins is important for tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. Integrins are the principal receptors for binding most extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Integrins serve two major roles in cell function: cell adhesion and cell signaling. There are multiple mechanisms by which integrins can be assessed in the laboratory, and clinical trials with anti-integrin antibodies are ongoing. Tumor cells can use variable integrin expression to increase proliferation and promote metastasis and angiogenesis. There may be a role for integrin blockade in the treatment of tumor growth and metastasis, though successful human trials have not yet been achieved.