The claudin family of proteins in the pathogenesis and treatment of malignancies: current insights and future prospects

This review presents data concerning claudins, the proteins of tight junctions, and their role in the pathogenesis and therapy of malignancies. Particular attention is paid to the variability in claudin expression levels, their intracellular localization in tumors, and the prognostic significance of these variations in cancer. The review highlights the role of claudins in metastatic spread, invasion, and tumor cell resistance to antitumor drug therapy. Moreover, the potential of claudins as targets for novel diagnostic and treatment methods for malignant neoplasms is also discussed.