CDH1 and neoplasm: In addition, experimental studies have shown that E-cadherin-mediated cell–cell adhesion promotes cell survival protecting tumour cells from chemotherapy and from destruction while in the circulation as tumour cell clumps (St Croix and Kerbel, 1997; Kantak and Kramer, 1998; Gillett et al, 2001; Friedl et al, 2004).