Afadin loss induces breast cancer metastasis through destabilisation of E-cadherin to F-actin linkage.

ABSTRACT: Afadin is a multimodal scaffolding protein with essential functions in cell-cell adhesion. Although its loss of expression has been linked to breast cancer invasion and metastasis, the underlying mechanisms driving tumour progression upon mutational Afadin (AFDN) loss in breast cancers remains unclear. In the current study we identified a somatic frameshift AFDN mutation (p.Lys630fs) in an invasive breast cancer sample that coincides with loss of Afadin protein expression. Functional studies in E-cadherin-expressing breast cancer cells show that Afadin loss leads to immature and aberrant adherens junction (AJ) formation. The lack of AJ maturation results in a noncohesive cellular phenotype accompanied by Actomyosin-dependent anoikis resistance, which are classical progression hallmarks of

SUBMITTER: Ratze MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11985701 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature