Molecular Biology Commons^™

Metastasis is characterized pathologically by cell invasion, proliferation, migration and angiogenesis. Growth factors, which include epithelial growth factor (EGF), insulin growth factors I and II (IGFI and IGFII); have been associated with most if not all of the features of metastasis.  Our study has highlighted the possible role growth factors may have in mediating cancer metastasis via Rab GTPses.  We determined that the invasive and migratory properties of breast cancer cells were abrogated in cell lines that only expressed the inactive (GDP-bound) form of Rab 5 irrespective of growth factor stimulation. Breast cancer cell lines expressing the wild type and …