Table 4 Distinct tumor-suppressive and oncogenic functions of integrins.

α2β1

Loss of α2β1 integrin promotes breast cancer metastasis in vivo and α2β1 integrin over-expression inhibits migration, intravasation, and anchorage-independent growth in vitro.

High-density fibrillar collagen (HDFC) matrix promotes invadopodia in breast fibrosarcoma and prostate carcinoma cell lines and in primary human fibroblasts by activating α2β1.

[229]

β3

Melanoma tumor growth and angiogenesis are enhanced in β3 deficient mice.

Tugging forces using magnetic beads in vitro decrease β3 expression and promote invasion of fibrosarcoma cells.

[228]

β3

The β3+ -richsubpopulation cells from patient-derived lung and pancreatic xenografts show tumor-initiating cell properties and chemoresistant ability through KRAS/RalB/NFκB pathway.

Increased 2D matrix stiffness elevates β3 expression of breast cancer cells and tumor-produced factors that are associated with bone destruction (Gli2 and PTHrP).

[466]

β1

Inhibiting integrin β1 expression in lung cancer cells show decreased lung tumor number and volume in mice through c-Met/RTK pathway.

Increased matrix stiffness facilitates β1 integrin clustering and promotes focal adhesions to drive invasion of Ha-ras mammary epithelium in vitro and in vivo.

[53]