A protein called integrin a7 suppresses tumor growth and cell migration, and mutations in the integrin a7 gene are identified in various cancers, including prostate and liver cancer.

Integrins are important adhesive molecules in mammalian cells. Integrin ??7 appears to be involved in muscle development and in communication between muscle cells and the material surrounding the cells, known as extracellular matrix.

Baoguo Ren, M.D., of the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues identified integrin ??7 mutations in specimens from several different types of cancers, and four cell lines.

Mutations were found in 16 of 28 prostate cancer samples, 8 of 24 liver cancer samples, 5 of 6 glioblastoma samples, and 1 of 4 leiomyosarcomas (cancer of smooth muscle cells). When integrin ??7 expression in prostate cancer and leiomyosarcoma cell lines was restored to normal levels, tumors generated from these cells grew more slowly and produced fewer metastates.

"The ubiquitous expression of integrin ??7 in human organs and widespread mutations of this gene in human cancers raise the possibility that integrin ??7 may have a role in the development of many human malignancies," the authors write.

Contact: Jim Swyers, University of Pittsburgh



The Journal of the National Cancer Institute is published by Oxford University Press and is not affiliated with the National Cancer Institute. Visit the Journal online at jnci.oxfordjournals/.

Contact: Liz Savage
Journal of the National Cancer Institute