In colon cancer, EphA2 interacts with claudin4 to regulate cell adhesion via cis interactions leading to EphA2-dependent phosphorylation of claudin4; phosphorylated claudin is not recruited to the tight junction and, as a consequence, the authors observed increased paracellular permeability, a factor that promotes cancer aggressiveness (Tanaka et al., 2005b). The gene discussed is EPHA2; the disease is malignant colon neoplasm.