MULTIPLICITY OF FIBRONECTIN-BINDING ALPHA(NU), INTEGRIN RECEPTORS IN COLORECTAL-CANCER

Current data from in vitro and in vivo animal models indicate that fib ronectin-binding integrin receptors expressed by colon cancer cells ma y regulate tumour growth. While individual members of the beta(1) subf amily of integrins have now been clearly identified in colorectal canc er, little information exists with respect to the alpha(v) subfamily. In the present study we show that alpha(v) can associate with multiple and different beta subunits capable of binding fibronectin in this tu mour type. This is likely to have functional implications for growth a nd spread of colorectal cancer.