HISTOLOGY AND HISTOPATHOLOGY

Cellular and Molecular Biology

 

Review

EPH receptors in cancer

Julio Castaño1,3*, Veronica Davalos1,3*, Simo Schwartz Jr1,3 and Diego Arango2,3

1Drug Delivery and Targeting Group, 2Molecular Oncology Group, Nanomedicine Program, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Research Center (CIBBIM), Vall d'Hebron Hospital Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain and 3Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Barcelona, Spain.
*These authors contributed equally for this review

Offprint requests to: Diego Arango, Ph.D., Molecular Oncology Group, Nanomedicine Program, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Research Center (CIBBIM), Vall d'Hebron Hospital Research Institute, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, Barcelona 08035, Spain. e-mail: darango@ir.vhebron.net


Summary. EPH receptors and their ephrin ligands constitute the largest sub-family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and are components of cell signaling pathways involved in animal development. The ability of the EPH/ephrin guidance system to position cells and modulate cell morphology underlies their various roles in development. In addition, EPH signaling plays an important role in oncogenic processes observed in several organs. These receptors are involved in a wide range of processes directly related with tumorigenesis and metastasis, including cell attachment and shape, migration, and angiogenesis. Accordingly, deregulation of EPH expression and signaling activity could be crucial for the tumorigenic process. This review focuses on EPH receptors’ roles in oncogenic transformation and tumor progression. Histol Histopathol 23, 1011-1023 (2008)

Key words: EPH receptors, Ephrins, Tumorigenesis, Cancer

DOI: 10.14670/HH-23.1011