Moving target

In addition to increasing cell proliferation, a key role for Src in cancer seems to be the induction of invasion and motility, factors that likely contribute to tumor progression. Src is activated through various mechanisms including via intracellular phosphatases, activating mutations and stimulation by growth factor receptors (1). Once activated, Src works through multiple pathways to promote an invasive phenotype. Motility and invasiveness depend upon the loss of adherens junctions and turnover of focal adhesions. Src promotes the loss of adherens junctions by stimulating the ubiquitylation of E-cadherin, which leads to endocytosis and degradation (2a). ...