Adhesion and Migration Cell adhesion is a complex process that
mediates specific physical interactions and cross-talk between a
cell and its environment. Cell adhesion plays a critical role in
normal development and system homeostasis. Disruptions in the
normal regulation of cell adhesion contribute to tumor cell
invasiveness and metastasis. Cell adhesion is mediated by
specific classes of adhesion molecules including integrins, Ig-
superfamily cell adhesion molecules (ICAMS), cadherins, and
lectins that promote the adhesion of cells to each other or to
components of the extracellular matrix. In the immune system,
cell adhesion is essential for activation, tissue extravasation,
and contact dependent cytolysis. Cell adhesion molecules also
participate in signaling pathways that transmit information from
the extracellular environment to the interior of the cell.