The ability of an epithelial cell to adhere to its neighbor and to the extracellular environment is an essential process that defines in part a normal multicellular organism. In the post-genomic era of cancer biology, it is known that epithelial tumors are multi-clonal and are genetically unstable. In contrast, during the process of tumor metastasis, which is the major cause of death from cancer, a restricted set of adhesion molecules are displayed on the tumor cell surface. The adhesion molecules provide a selective advantage for migration of the tumor cell to a distant site. In this volume, the expression of specific adhesion molecules within human cancer tissues are highlighted. The expression signatures from published DNA microarray and immunohistochemistry studies are detailed. The concept that the alteration of specific adhesion molecules influence the cancer migration ability and cancer damage responses is detailed in this volume; both features are essential for the survival of an invading tumor cell. Defining the minimal adhesion receptors preserved on cancer cells during tumor progression will define the metastatic adhesion signature. Understanding the metastatic adhesion signature will reveal vulnerabilities that could be exploited for the prevention and/or eradication of the invading cancer cell.

In the past, many tumor marker laboratory tests have not been sensitive enough for the very early detection of cancer. However, many of them have nonetheless proved useful in monitoring therapy, following the course of the tumor, and predicting prog- nosis. Today, cancer may be viewed as a genetic disease with various specific chromo- somal and nucleotide aberrations, such as mutations, deletions, gene amplification, gene rearrangements, and translocations occurring during the transformation of a nor- mal cell into a malignant cell. The considerable advances in technology during the past several years have greatly enhanced our ability to detect human cancers in the very early stages of tumor forma- tion. These technologies include: (1) nucleotide molecular assays (genomics); (2) proteomics (multiplex protein measurements); (3) DNA microarrays; and (4) bio- informatics. Many of these technologies are already helping in the integration and use of multiple biomarkers for tumors. Although the individual biomarkers may reveal only limited information, the use of multiple biomarkers can help markedly elevate the diagnostic capabilities for early detection of tumors.

The ability of an epithelial cell to adhere to its neighbor and to the extracellular environment is an essential process that defines in part a normal multicellular organism. In the post-genomic era of cancer biology, it is known that epithelial tumors are multi-clonal and are genetically unstable. In contrast, during the process of tumor metastasis, which is the major cause of death from cancer, a restricted set of adhesion molecules are displayed on the tumor cell surface. The adhesion molecules provide a selective advantage for migration of the tumor cell to a distant site. In this volume, the expression of specific adhesion molecules within human cancer tissues are highlighted. The expression signatures from published DNA microarray and immunohistochemistry studies are detailed. The concept that the alteration of specific adhesion molecules influence the cancer migration ability and cancer damage responses is detailed in this volume; both features are essential for the survival of an invading tumor cell. Defining the minimal adhesion receptors preserved on cancer cells during tumor progression will define the metastatic adhesion signature. Understanding the metastatic adhesion signature will reveal vulnerabilities that could be exploited for the prevention and/or eradication of the invading cancer cell.