Role of Rho-family proteins in cell adhesion and cancer

Rho-family proteins control signalling pathways that regulate a wide range of biological processes. In vitro studies implicating Rho proteins in cell adhesion, migration, transcriptional activation, cell-cycle progression and transformation suggested roles for these proteins in the formation and progression of tumours in vivo. Studies using different recombinant mouse models have recently confirmed this idea. Rho signalling pathways crosstalk with different oncogenic signalling cascades, including those downstream of Ras and Wnt, and contribute to various aspects of tumourigenesis, including survival, growth and progression of tumour cells.