Effect of AMF/AMFR on Cell Invasion and Metastasis of Malignant Tumors

Autocrine motility factor from cancer cells combines with its receptor, a kind of transmembrane glycoprotein, and enters into the cells by endocytosis or cyst playing roles in invasion and metastasis. The effects include:(1) It up-regulates integrin expression and activates the secretion of MMP3, therefore, loosening cell-matrix adhesion and facilitating cancer cell migration. (2) It down-regulates E-cadherin expression, increases fi bronectin and vimentin, mediating epithelial-mesenchymal transition. (3) It induces vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, Flt-1 expression and the endothelium migration, promoting angiogenesis. Autocrine motility factor and its receptor participate in multiple steps of cancer invasion and metastasis.