Integrins: Molecular determinants of glioma invasion

Gliomas, the most common form of brain tumour are characterised by a capacity to invade throughout normal brain tissue. This infiltrative nature is the hallmark of poor prognosis. A greater understanding of the molecular determinants that drive invasion may lead to improved therapy. Integrins are a large family of cell surface receptors that mediate interaction between a cell and the extracellular matrix. Integrins facilitate extracellular matrix dependent organization of the cytoskeleton and activation of intracellular signalling that is required for the regulation of cell adhesion and migration. Since integrins are key regulators of these processes, the role these receptors play in tumour invasion is a field of intense research.