Filopodia in cell adhesion, 3D migration and cancer cell invasion

Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2015 Oct:36:23-31. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2015.06.007. Epub 2015 Jul 14.

Abstract

This review discusses recent advances in our understanding of the role filopodia and filopodia-like structures in cell adhesion and three dimensional (3D) cell migration both in vitro and in vivo. In particular, we focus on recent advances demonstrating that filopodia are involved in substrate tethering and environment sensing in vivo. We further discuss the emerging role of filopodia and filopodial proteins in tumor dissemination as mounting in vitro, in vivo and clinical evidence suggest that filopodia drive cancer cell invasion and highlight filopodia proteins as attractive therapeutic targets. Finally, we outline outstanding questions that remain to be addressed to elucidate the role of filopodia during 3D cell migration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Movement*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pseudopodia* / metabolism