Role of membrane components in the initiation and progression of tumour growth in endometrial cancer

This review discusses the role of membrane components in the initiation and progression of endometrial cancer. Cancer cells that are the substrate of the tumor growth are subject to multiple interactions both among themselves and with the tumor microenvironment.The cell membrane of tumor cells undergoes changes, resulting in simplified antigenic structure and the expression of molecules found in embryonic tissues, changes in the intercellular contacts that maintain epithelial homeostasis. Dense contacts form the basis for the preservation of normal endometrial histological organization. These changes also affect intercellular contacts, leading to the alteration of mechanical properties and invasive growth of tumor cells. In addition, components of dense contacts are participants of intracellular signal transduction pathways. The review highlights the potential role of claudin proteins, specifically in tight junctions and intracellular signaling, as promising targets for further study. Epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) represented in normal tissues in processes of reparation, plays a significant role in endometrial cancer progression, and the altered characterization of E-cadherin and β-catenin is important in understanding EMT’s role in the disease. Researchers are focusing on the E-cadherin as a component of oncogene activation pathways. Hyperestrogenemia (high serum estrogen levels) is known to underlie Type I endometrial adenocarcinoma. Additionally, estrogen receptors and claudins are implicated in intracellular signaling activating cell proliferation both in the norm and in the course of disease. Recent research also involved other molecules serving as targets for estrogens, e.g. claudin proteins. Change of clausin expression profiles mediated by sex hormones manifest both in suppression and replacement of one protein with another. Further study of cell membrane-associated markers has the potential to provide insights into tumor biology and aid in the development of new therapeutic approaches for endometrial cancer.