Cellular Architecture and Microenvironment

The intra- and intercellular architecture of tumor cells plays an important role in cellular processes. The tumor cell has polarity defined by the presence of specific cytoskeletal features. The coordinated function of the cytoskeletal and architectural features of the cell allow regulation of processes within and across the cell. For example, nutrients and chemical mediators can be passed through an individual cell from the apical membrane to the basolateral membrane or passed in between the cell via cell-cell junctions at the basolateral membrane.

Figure 1. Simplified schematic of a polarized epithelial cell showing the apical membrane at the top of the cell and the basolateral membrane at the sides of the cell. Click here to open a larger version of this image in a new window.

Upstream Pathways

Receptor tyrosine kinase/growth factor signaling

Downstream Pathways

MAP kinase signaling

Therapies That Target This Pathway

Genes Involved in the Pathway

PTK2
SRC

Last Updated: May 24, 2016

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