Estrogens promote cell-cell adhesion of normal and malignant mammary cells through increased desmosome formation

► We proved that estrogens increase cell-cell adhesion in breast cancer cell lines. ► Estrogen increases desmosomes number in normal and breast cancer cells. ► Expression of several desmosomal proteins is increased by estrogen treatment. ► Silencing of the estrogen receptor α expression prevents cell-cell adhesion. ► Silencing of a key desmosomal protein impairs estrogen-induced adhesion.