Abstract | BACKGROUND:
Fascin containing actin bundles provide mechanical support to cellular protrusions and stress fibers. In cancers, some malignant cells (e.g. subsets of breast and ovarian carcinomas) express fascin. In skin cancer, the role of fascin is unknown. METHODS: RESULTS: CONCLUSION:
Fascin is expressed by skin tumors that locally infiltrate and replace surrounding tissues indicating a role for fascin in cell adhesion, cell motility and invasiveness. No or weak fascin expression is exhibited by cancers with pagetoid intraepidermal spread and by invasive tumors with a high risk of metastasis. Downregulation or loss of fascin's actin-bundling properties, probably associated with disorganization of cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts, may be a crucial step in the progression from locally invasive to widely disseminating cancers.
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Authors | Viktor N Goncharuk, Jeffrey S Ross, J Andrew Carlson |
Journal | Journal of cutaneous pathology
(J Cutan Pathol)
Vol. 29
Issue 7
Pg. 430-8
(Aug 2002)
ISSN: 0303-6987 [Print] United States |
PMID | 12139639
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Actins
- Carrier Proteins
- Microfilament Proteins
- fascin
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Topics |
- Actins
(metabolism)
- Carrier Proteins
(metabolism)
- Down-Regulation
- Female
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Microfilament Proteins
(metabolism)
- Neoplasm Invasiveness
- Skin Neoplasms
(metabolism, pathology)
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