What is loss of anchorage dependence?

Loss of anchorage dependence refers to the ability of cancer cells to grow and divide without attaching to a substrate, such as the extracellular matrix (ECM).

Normally, cells require attachment to a substrate in order to receive signals for growth and survival. However, cancer cells that have lost anchorage dependence can grow and divide in suspension, without the need for a substrate. This ability is one of the hallmarks of cancer and is often associated with a more aggressive and metastatic phenotype.

Loss of anchorage dependence is caused by a number of genetic and epigenetic changes that occur in cancer cells, including alterations in cell adhesion molecules and signaling pathways.