ABSTRACT
Cellular adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a critical regulator of fundamental processes including growth, differentiation, death, and migration. Loss of adhesive influences stimulates apoptosis in many non-transformed cells. 1 Indeed, a hallmark of transformation is the loss of adhesion-dependent growth control, which is often accompanied by increased cellular migration. Cells recognize and respond to the ECM through specialized adhesive structures called focal adhesions. In addition to linking structural components of the cytoskeleton to the underlying matrix, focal adhesions likely organize 50a competent signal transduction cascade initiated by receptor-mediated recognition of ECM components (e.g., fibronectin, laminin, collagen).
