During cancer progression, cells lose their original tissue contacts, move through the extracellular matrix (ECM), enter into the lymphatic and/or blood system, extravasate, and subsequently form new tumors. Therefore, tumor cells inevitably experience alterations in cell–cell and cell–ECM adhesion, and the transformation activities of tumor cells are highly influenced by cell adhesion via adhesion receptors such as cadherins, integrins, cell surface proteoglycans, and tetraspanins. These adhesion receptors together with extracellular ligands in the tumor–microenvironment couple the extracellular environment to intracellular signals to enhance cancer cell migration, invasion, proliferation, and survival. Therefore, an understanding of ‘cell adhesion in cancer’ is key to understanding the development of cancer and may provide a cure for cancer in the near future.

In this special issue, we invite authors to present original research as well as review articles that will highlight the current aspects of cell adhesion signaling and stimulate the continuing efforts to understand underlying regulatory mechanism in cancer cell adhesion. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Changes in cell adhesion during epithelial to mesenchymal transition
• Role of tumor–microenvironment during cancer progression
• The turnover of the ECM during cancer progression
• Tumor microenvironment and cell adhesion receptor–mediated cell adhesion signaling
• Physical and functional cooperation between cell adhesion receptors and other cell surface receptors
• Influences of stromal cell on cancer cell adhesion
• Latest technologies for measuring cancer cell adhesion and migration
• Recent advances in adhesion–based cancer therapy