Cell migration is critical during the metastatic spread of
cancer cells.
Metastases, rather than primary tumours, are responsible for most
cancer-related deaths. Invasive
cancer cells acquire a migratory phenotype which is associated with an increased expression of several genes involved in cell motility. Actin, which is the most abundant
protein in most eukaryotic cells, is necessary for whole cell locomotion. Reorganisation of actin filaments is regulated by a highly integrated signalling cascade governed by 'molecular switches' which belong to the
Rho GTPase family. WASP family
proteins are downstream molecules which form a link between the
GTPases and the actin cytoskeleton. The WASP family includes 5 members and is structurally divided into 2 groups:
Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome proteins (WASPs) and WASP verprolin homologous
proteins (WAVEs). Current evidence suggests that WAVEs are crucial for cell motility and
metastasis. This is a review on the possible role of WAVEs in
cancer and the clinical associations found in human
cancer.