DMMC Course: MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY IN ACTION

1110-1230 Wednesday 30 November 2005. UCD Conway Institute Lecture Theatre

Cell-cell adhesion, tumour invasion and metastasis
Dr Ann Hopkins (UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science)

Epithelial cells adhere to their neighbours via protein complexes known as intercellular junctions. In addition to playing structural roles in cell-cell adhesion, it is becoming increasingly evident that these complexes possess important signalling functions. This session will discuss how alterations in cell-cell adhesion and signalling from intercellular junctions could regulate the invasive process in epithelial tumours, and what implications this may have for progression from invasive to metastatic states.