Tight junctions and their role in cancer metastasis

Abstract

Tight Junctions gove rn the permeabili ty of endothelial and epithelial cells and are the most topical structures of these cell types. Tight junctions create an intercell ular ba rri er and in tramembrane diffusion fe nce. An important step in the fo rmation of ca ncer metastases is int e rac ti on and pe netrat io n o f th e vasc ula r endothelium by dissociated ca ncer cells. Ea rly studies demonstrated a correlation between the reduction of tight junctions and tumour diffe rent iati on and experimental evidence has emerged to pl ace tight junctions in the frontline as the structure that ca ncer cells must overcome in order to metastasise. Changes in tight juncti on function are thu s an ea rl y and key aspect in cancer metastasis. Further work is requ ired to fully realise the potent ial that this structure has in cancer invasion and metastasis in ord er to deve lop new and nove l th erapi es in th e prevention of tumour metastasis.