The adaptor protein SHCA launches cancer invasion.

Cancer cell invasion and metastasis rely on invadopodia, important extensions of the cytoskeleton that initiate degradation of the basement membrane that holds a cell in place. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is well-known to induce breast cancer migration and invasion, but the mechanism by which TGF-β signaling converts into cell motility is not completely understood. A study from Kiepas et al. revealed a new TGF-β-dependent role for Src homology/collagen adaptor protein (SHCA) in the initiation of dynamic adhesion complexes involved in the formation of invadopodia. These results highlight new therapeutic opportunities for cancer patients that are not sensitive to HER2 antagonists.