The role of cadherins and catenins in gliomagenesis.

Cell-cell adhesion is a crucial process occurring during normal tissue development. Cadherins are calcium-dependent cell-surface adhesion molecules involved in cell-cell adhesion. They reorganize the actin cytoskeleton via interaction with the catenins. Modulation of the cadherin/catenin system plays a role in cell motility. Dysregulation of the cadherin/catenin assembly has been implicated in various cancers. In this review, the authors summarize all studies focusing on the role of cadherins and catenins in glioma formation. With the emergence of recent data regarding gliomas' putative cell of origin, elucidation of the role of cadherins/catenins in gliomagenesis will become important in devising new therapeutic approaches against such deadly cancers.