US EPA

2285791 

Journal Article 

The Caveolin-1 Connection to Cell Death and Survival 

Quest, AFG; Lobos-Gonzalez, L; Nunez, S; Sanhueza, C; Fernandez, JG; Aguirre, A; Rodriguez, D; Leyton, L; Torres, V 

2013 

Yes 

Current Molecular Medicine
ISSN: 1566-5240
EISSN: 1875-5666 

13 

2 

266-281 

23228128 

WOS:000320456200004 

Caveolins are a family of membrane proteins required for the formation of small plasma membrane invaginations called caveolae that are implicated in cellular trafficking processes. In addition to this structural role, these scaffolding proteins modulate numerous intracellular signaling pathways; often via direct interaction with specific binding partners. Caveolin-1 is particularly well-studied in this respect and has been attributed a large variety of functions. Thus, Caveolin-1 also represents the best-characterized isoform of this family with respect to its participation in cancer. Rather strikingly, available evidence indicates that Caveolin-1 belongs to a select group of proteins that function, depending on the cellular settings, both as tumor suppressor and promoter of cellular traits commonly associated with enhanced malignant behavior, such as metastasis and multi-drug resistance. The mechanisms underlying such ambiguity in Caveolin-1 function constitute an area of great interest. Here, we will focus on discussing how Caveolin-1 modulates cell death and survival pathways and how this may contribute to a better understanding of the ambiguous role this protein plays in cancer. 

Caveolin-1; cell death; metastasis; multi-drug resistance; proliferation; tumor suppression