Integrins are cell adhesion receptors, which are typically transmembrane
glycoproteins that connect to the extracellular matrix (ECM). The function of
integrins regulated by biochemical events within the cells. Understanding the mechanisms of cell growth by
integrins is important in elucidating their effects on
tumor progression. One of the major events in
integrin signaling is
integrin binding to extracellular
ligands. Another event is distant signaling that gathers chemical signals from outside of the cell and transmit the signals upon cell adhesion to the inside of the cell. In normal breast tissue,
integrins function as checkpoints to monitor effects on cell proliferation, while in
cancer tissue these functions altered. The combination of tumor microenvironment and its associated components determines the cell fate.
Hypoxia can increase the expression of several
integrins. The exosomal
integrins promote the growth of metastatic cells. Expression of certain
integrins is associated with increased
metastasis and decreased prognosis in
cancers. In addition,
integrin-
binding proteins promote invasion and
metastasis in
breast cancer. Targeting specific
integrins and
integrin-
binding proteins may provide new therapeutic approaches for
breast cancer therapies. This review will examine the current knowledge of
integrins' role in
breast cancer.