Integrin signaling and lung cancer.

The poor prognosis of most non small cell lung carcinomas is due to their ability to efficiently invade surrounding tissues and blood vessels, finally metastasizing to distant organs. Integrin mediated adhesive interaction with the surrounding extracellular matrix is a key limiting step in the regulation of the invasive properties of several cancer cell types. Here, we examine the rising evidences about the role that integrins can play in the physiopathology of non small cell lung carcinomas by regulating cell adhesion as well as the activation of growth factors and the traffic of their cognate receptors. Modulation of the signaling pathways controlled by integrins in lung cancer cells might offer the opportunity to design and develop new drugs that might be successfully combined with conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy.