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2756434 
Journal Article 
β2-microglobulin induces epithelial to mesenchymal transition and confers cancer lethality and bone metastasis in human cancer cells 
Josson, S; Nomura, T; Lin, JT; Huang, WC; Wu, D; Zhau, HE; Zayzafoon, M; Weizmann, MN; Gururajan, M; Chung, LW 
2011 
Yes 
Cancer Research
ISSN: 0008-5472
EISSN: 1538-7445 
71 
7 
2600-2610 
English 
21427356 
Bone metastasis is one of the predominant causes of cancer lethality. This study demonstrates for the first time how β2-microglobulin (β2-M) supports lethal metastasis in vivo in human prostate, breast, lung, and renal cancer cells. β2-M mediates this process by activating epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) to promote lethal bone and soft tissue metastases in host mice. β2-M interacts with its receptor, hemochromatosis (HFE) protein, to modulate iron responsive pathways in cancer cells. Inhibition of either β2-M or HFE results in reversion of EMT. These results demonstrate the role of β2-M in cancer metastasis and lethality. Thus, β2-M and its downstream signaling pathways are promising prognostic markers of cancer metastases and novel therapeutic targets for cancer therapy.