Which of the following is involved in tumor metastasis cascade?
High-Yield Explanation
The 4 steps involved in tumor metastatic cascade are loosening of tumor cells, local degradation of the basement membrane and interstitial connective tissue, changes in attachment of tumor cells to ECM proteins and locomotion. E cadherins acts as intercellular glues and they can transmit antigrowth signals by sequestering beta catenin. The first step in tumor metastatic cascade is loosening of tumor cells. In this, the function of E cadherin is lost either by mutational inactivation of E cadherin genes, by activation of beta catenin genes, or by inappropriate expression of the SNAIL and TWIST transcription factors which suppresses E cadherin expression. Ref: Robbins Basic Pathology edited by Vinay Kumar page 194.