Role of Acid Sphingomyelinase-Induced Signaling in Melanoma Cells for Hematogenous Tumor Metastasis

Abstract

Asm, secreted from activated platelets after tumor cell-platelet contact, induces p38K phosphorylation in tumor cells. This in turn stimulates β1 integrin activation that is necessary for adhesion and subsequent metastasis of tumor cells. Thus, inhibition of p38K might be a novel target to prevent tumor metastasis.