CELL-ADHESION RECEPTORS AND GAP-JUNCTIONS IN NORMAL AND NEOPLASTIC TRANSFORMED THYROCYTES

In the thyroid cell adhesion receptors and gap junctions establish a c omplex modular network defining the structural properties of cells, th eir interactions with neighboring cells and the extracellular matrix. Neoplastic alterations of this network can lead to an imbalance of cel l to cell communication and allows transformed cells to escape from th e tissue to generate metastases. The present manuscript summarizes gen eral and thyroid-specific aspects of the molecular basis of cell-cell contacts, and expanding field of tumor biology.