In many types of solid tumours, the aberrant expression of the cell adhesion molecule N-
cadherin is a hallmark of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, resulting in the acquisition of …

Cancer invasion is a cell-and tissue-driven process for which the physical, cellular, and
molecular determinants adapt and react throughout the progression of the disease. Cancer …

Cadherins and integrins are intrinsically linked through the actin cytoskeleton and share
common signaling molecules. Although mechanosensing by the integrin–actin axis has long …

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition is an indispensable mechanism during morphogenesis,
as without mesenchymal cells, tissues and organs will never be formed. However, epithelial …

A central question in cell biology is how membrane-spanning receptors transmit
extracellular signals inside cells to modulate cell adhesion and motility. Focal adhesion …

The microvascular endothelial cell monolayer localized at the critical interface between the
blood and vessel wall has the vital functions of regulating tissue fluid balance and supplying …

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2) are related tyrosine
kinases that have important cellular functions, primarily through regulation of the …

Cell shape changes underlie a large set of biological processes ranging from cell division to
cell motility. Stereotyped patterns of cell shape changes also determine tissue remodeling …

Focal-adhesion kinase (FAK) is an important mediator of growth-factor signalling, cell
proliferation, cell survival and cell migration. Given that the development of malignancy is …

Forces are increasingly recognized as major regulators of cell structure and function, and
the mechanical properties of cells are essential to the mechanisms by which cells sense …