Previous studies <i>in vivo</i>, <i>in vitro</i> and in the clinic have demonstrated that CD151 is involved in tumor progression at different levels through interaction with integrins, growth factor receptors and matrix metalloproteinases.
CD151 is involved in cell adhesion, motility and cancer progression due to formation of complexes with laminin-binding integrins and regulation of growth factor receptors function (e.g.HGFR, TGFβR, EGFR).
We demonstrate that CD151 can regulate tumor cell migration without direct integrin binding and that integrin-free CD151 (CD151(free)) correlates clinically with tumor progression and metastasis.
Tetraspanins including CD9, CD37, CD63, and CD151 are linked to cellular adhesion, cell differentiation, migration, carcinogenesis, and tumor progression.