Abstract
A cytoskeletal protein keratin 19 (K19) is highly expressed in breast cancer but its effects on breast cancer cell mechanics are unclear. In MCF7 cells where K19 expression is ablated,
knockout cells, suggesting that E-cadherin internalization contributed to defective adhesion. Ultimately, while K19 inhibited cell migration and invasion, it was required for cells to form colonies in suspension. Our results suggest that K19 stabilizes E-cadherin complexes at the cell membrane to maintain cell-cell adhesion which inhibits cell invasiveness but provides growth and survival advantages for circulating tumor cells.