There has been a dramatic increase in knowledge of tight junctions in the past decade. The molecular structure of tight junctions, cellular functions and the pathophysiological roles of tight junctions are becoming clear. Of the most important functions, the role of the cellular structure in cancer spread and drug delivery are increasingly realised. It is now clear that there are fundamental changes to tight junctions during the process of cancer development. Tight junctions are also critical to the metastatic process of cancer cells. The cellular structure is also crucial in drug therapies, namely, the permeability and bioavailability of the drugs, penetration of barriers such as the blood brain barrier. This current volume aims to summarise the current knowledge of tight junctions, their role in cancer and cancer metastasis and is of interest to scientists and clinicians.

Inhalt

Preface.- The molecular aspects of Tight junctions.- The distribution of tight junctions and junctional proteins in the body.- Methodologies in investigation tight junctions.- Vascular permeability and drug delivery.- Tight junctions, BBB and brain metastasis.- Tight junctions and bladder cancer metastasis.- Tight Junctions and colorectal cancer therapies.- Tight junctions in breast cancer.- Regulation of tight junctions for therapeutic advantages.- Overcoming tight junctional permeability in cerebral metastasis.- CL-5 and cancer metastasis.- Intracellular signalling in TJ and AJ.- ROCK and TJ.- Index.