Adhesion molecules

Cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs) are transmembrane proteins that link the cytoskeleton and intracellular signaling cascades with the extracellular environment.  There are four families of cell adhesion molecules, the Immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) which bind to integrins, Selectins, which are Ca2+-dependent CAMs, Integrins, which bind IgSFs and extracellular matrix ligands, and Cadherins, also Ca2+-dependent CAMs.  Cell adhesion molecules have roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, motility, trafficking, apoptosis and tissue architecture, and their dysregulation is common in cancer.

Further reading

Moh and Shen (2009) The roles of cell adhesion molecules in tumor suppression and cell migration: a new paradox. Cell Adh. Migr. 3(4) 334 PMID: 19949308

Walker et al (2018) Role of Extracellular Matrix in Development and Cancer Progression. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 19(10) 3028 PMID: 30287763

Harjunpää et al (2019) Cell Adhesion Molecules and Their Roles and Regulation in the Immune and Tumor Microenvironment. Front. Immunol. 10 1078 PMID: 31231358