On How CCN6 Suppresses Breast Cancer Growth and Invasion

Overview

Journal J Cell Commun Signal

Date 2011 Aug 16

PMID 21842227

Citations 7

Authors

Wei Huang

Anupama Pal

Celina G Kleer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Living cells communicate with their microenvironment and exchange information through signaling pathways in order to carry out most biological processes. The CCN family of proteins has the ability to coordinate the extracellular and intracellular signaling pathways and epithelial-stromal cross-talks. CCN proteins have been shown to play roles in multiple processes including cancer, either as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. Particularly, loss of CCN6 expression has been reported in highly aggressive breast cancer types, especially in inflammatory breast cancer and breast cancer with axillary lymph node metastasis. Recent findings can better explain the biological relevance of CCN6 as a tumor suppressor protein in breast tumorigenesis. CCN6 loss triggers the process of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), which converts epithelial cells into migratory and invasive mesenchymal-like cells at least in part through modulation of IGF-1 receptor signaling pathway. Emerging data support the hypothesis that CCN6 also exerts growth factor independent functions, especially related to cell survival and anoikis resistance. Thus, our work provides new insights into the functions and mechanisms of tumor suppression exerted by CCN6 in the breast.

Citing Articles

Circulating CCN6/WISP3 in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and its correlation with insulin resistance and inflammation: statistical and machine learning analyses.

Afrisham R, Jadidi Y, Moradi N, Ayyoubzadeh S, Fadaei R, Kiani Ghalesardi O BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2025; 25(1):114.

PMID: 40050813 PMC: 11887242. DOI: 10.1186/s12911-025-02957-1.

CTGF (CCN2): a multifaceted mediator in breast cancer progression and therapeutic targeting.

Ghosh P, Dey A, Nandi S, Majumder R, Das S, Mandal M Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2025; 44(1):32.

PMID: 39945880 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-025-10248-4.

Anoikis resistance--protagonists of breast cancer cells survive and metastasize after ECM detachment.

Dai Y, Zhang X, Ou Y, Zou L, Zhang D, Yang Q Cell Commun Signal. 2023; 21(1):190.

PMID: 37537585 PMC: 10399053. DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01183-4.

CCN proteins: opportunities for clinical studies-a personal perspective.

Yeger H J Cell Commun Signal. 2023; 17(2):333-352.

PMID: 37195381 PMC: 10326213. DOI: 10.1007/s12079-023-00761-y.

Potential Role of CCN Proteins in Breast Cancer: Therapeutic Advances and Perspectives.

Ahmed K, Hasib T, Paul S, Saddam M, Mimi A, Saikat A Curr Oncol. 2021; 28(6):4972-4985.

PMID: 34940056 PMC: 8700172. DOI: 10.3390/curroncol28060417.

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