Ezrin...a metastatic detERMinant?

Cancer Cell. 2004 Feb;5(2):113-4. doi: 10.1016/s1535-6108(04)00031-5.

Abstract

The insidious process of tumor metastasis is the most devastating and least well-understood aspect of cancer. Metastasis is very complex and employs many cellular processes, suggesting that individual metastatic determinants may not be easily identified. Mounting evidence, culminating in the work described in two recent articles, strongly suggests that the membrane:cytoskeleton organizer Ezrin can promote tumor metastasis. Ultimately, a better understanding of exactly how Ezrin confers metastatic advantage will provide important insight into this key problem in cancer biology.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute-Phase Proteins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion / physiology
  • Cell Division / physiology
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Cell Survival / physiology
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Models, Animal
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / physiopathology*
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / physiopathology
  • Neurofibromin 2 / metabolism
  • Osteosarcoma / physiopathology*
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Acute-Phase Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Neurofibromin 2
  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • acute-phase protein rho
  • ezrin
  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor