Orchestrating movement: the role of Caveolin-1 in migration and metastasis

Cancer metastasis is a complex, multi-step process that accounts for the majority of cancer-related deaths. Cell motility and directional migration are central to these processes. Cell migration’s molecular mechanisms and metastatic disease progression are strongly correlated, and Caveolin-1 (CAV1) is expected to be involved in metastasis based on its role in migrating cells. In early-stage cancers, CAV1 typically suppresses tumour growth by inhibiting cell proliferation and stabilising cellular signalling, and its downregulation or loss is commonly linked to tumour initiation. However, in advanced cancers, CAV1 expression is often upregulated and facilitates tumour progression by enhancing cell migration, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. Consequently, CAV1 has emerged as a critical mediator in transitioning from localised tumour growth to metastatic spread. However, the context-dependent roles of CAV1 make it difficult to understand its role in metastasis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the involvement of CAV1 in different modes of cancer cell migration and metastasis. We discuss its molecular functions, context-dependent roles, and interactions with key signalling pathways, including extracellular vesicle signalling, that control cell movement, shedding light on its complex contribution to cancer progression.