Tetraspanins and tumor progression

Abstract

Transmembrane protein tetraspanins either promote or suppress tumor invasion and metastasis. Their effects on tumor progression depend on the multimolecular transmembrane complex called tetraspanin-enriched microdomain (TEM) and are attributed to the alterations in the (1) motogenic and mitogenic behaviors and/or (2) microenvironmental interactions of tumor cells. As the modifiers of cell membrane structure and function, tetraspanins have emerged as diagnostic and prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for tumor progression.

Monoclonal Antibody Targeting of the Cell Surface Molecule TM4SF5 Inhibits the Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

“…Tetraspanins, also known as transmembrane 4 superfamily (TM4SF) members, mediate signal transduction events that regulate cell differentiation, activation, growth, and migration (6,7). For example, TM4SF4 regulates endocrine pancreas differentiation and inhibits Rho family of GTPase-activated cell migration and actin organization in a Rho kinase (ROCK)-independent fashion (7).…”

Human tetraspanin transmembrane 4 superfamily member 4 or intestinal and liver tetraspan membrane protein is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma and accelerates tumor cell growth

“…For instance, the tetraspanins CD82 and CD9 are down-regulated in tumors and mostly suppress tumor progression, and CD151 and Tspan8 are overexpressed in several tumors and seem to support tumor progression [8]. CD82 was found to directly bind to Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines on vascular endothelium, thereby leading to metastasis suppression [17].…”

“…Tetraspanins can interact with a variety of transmembrane and cytosolic proteins, including integrins, growth factor receptors, G-protein-coupled receptors, and their intracellular proteins to form lager complexes termed tetraspanin webs or tetraspanin-enriched microdomains on the cell surface, and play their roles associated with cell adhesion, proliferation, and motility [5][6][7]. Approximately half of human tetraspanins have been experimentally studied and several such as CD9, CD63, CD82, CD151, and Tspan8 have been shown to correlate with tumor prognosis and regulate tumor progression and metastasis [8].…”

Tetraspanin CD9: Contributions to Cancer Cell and Vascular Cell Phenotypes from the Sixth Man

“…Two tetraspanins -CD9 and CD151 -make the most prominent contributions to cancer cell biology [61,62]. There is a considerable amount of evidence indicating CD151 promotes metastasis and no evidence at the present indicating it suppresses metastasis [61,63].…”

“…There is a considerable amount of evidence indicating CD151 promotes metastasis and no evidence at the present indicating it suppresses metastasis [61,63]. CD151 overexpression is observed in many tumors including brain [64], breast [65], colon [66], lung [67], pancreas [68], and prostate [69].…”