Vol. 28, No. 3, 2006 (October)
	Content

THE ROLE OF CADHERIN/CATENIN COMPLEX IN MALIGNANT MELANOMA

N. Bonitsis^{1, 2}, A. Batistatou³, S. Karantima¹, K. Charalabopoulos^1, *

¹Department of Physiology, Clinical Unit, Ioannina University Medical School, Ioannina, Greece
²Department of Dermatology, Ioannina University Medical School, Ioannina, Greece
³Department of Pathology, Ioannina University Medical School, Ioannina, Greece

Abstract. In the present review article the role of cadherin/catenin complex in cases of malignant melanoma is discussed in some detail. Cadherins represent the most important superfamily of adhesion molecules with epithelial E-cadherin being the most studied. Its role in normal state as well as in cancer invasion and metastasis and some other pathologies is crucial. E-cadherin expression is altered in malignant melanomas and its downregulation or absence is associated with melanoma invasion and metastasis potential. A shift from E-cadherin expression to neural N-cadherin expression in melanocytes is also detected in malignant melanomas formation. In addition, a discussion regarding the role of placental P-cadherin and vascular endothelial VE-cadherin as well as the recently identified molecule of dysadherin, is attempted in brief.

Key Words: adhesion molecules, cadherins, catenins, dysadherin, melanoma

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