Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
Tumor Progression02:07

Tumor Progression

Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
Tumor Progression02:07

Tumor Progression

Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
Extracellular Matrix01:26

Extracellular Matrix

Unlike epithelial tissue, which is composed of cells closely packed with little or no extracellular space in between, connective tissue cells are dispersed in a matrix. This extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed of fibrous proteins like collagen, elastin, and fibronectin in a ground substance consisting of interstitial fluid, cell adhesion proteins, and proteoglycans. The proteoglycans form a gel-like material in the spaces between cells and provide hydration, buffering, binding, and force...
The Extracellular Matrix01:29

The Extracellular Matrix

Overview
In order to maintain tissue organization, many animal cells are surrounded by structural molecules that make up the extracellular matrix (ECM). Together, the molecules in the ECM maintain the structural integrity of tissue as well as the remarkable specific properties of certain tissues.
Composition of the Extracellular Matrix
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is commonly composed of ground substance, a gel-like fluid, fibrous components, and many structurally and functionally diverse...
The Extracellular Matrix01:42

The Extracellular Matrix

In order to maintain tissue organization, many animal cells are surrounded by structural molecules that make up the extracellular matrix (ECM). Together, the molecules in the ECM maintain the structural integrity of tissue as well as the remarkable specific properties of certain tissues.Composition of the Extracellular MatrixThe extracellular matrix (ECM) is commonly composed of ground substance, a gel-like fluid, fibrous components, and many structurally and functionally diverse molecules.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Chronic stress unleashes an intratumor phage-fibroblast-B cell circuit to promote tumor growth.

Cancer cell·2026
Same author

Expert opinion on burning questions in cancer myeloid cell biology.

Journal for immunotherapy of cancer·2026
Same author

Hijacked on arrival: glucocorticoids enable disseminated tumor cell immune evasion.

Trends in immunology·2026
Same author

NCOR2 represses MHC class I molecule expression to drive metastatic progression of breast cancer.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Tissue tension fosters macrophage-driven lipid peroxidation-induced DNA damage.

Cancer cell·2026
Same author

The Interplay Between Circadian Clocks and the Tumour Microenvironment in Breast Cancer.

Cancers·2026
Same journal

Mechanosensing in immune cells: Implications for migration and beyond.

Current opinion in cell biology·2026
Same journal

Emerging role of organelles in cell migration.

Current opinion in cell biology·2026
Same journal

Nuclear adaptation in cell migration.

Current opinion in cell biology·2026
Same journal

Patterns in motion: Choreographing dynamic cell behaviours during tissue repair.

Current opinion in cell biology·2026
Same journal

Quo vadis reconstituted cell surfaces? Purpose and future perspectives for minimal systems of the cell plasma membrane.

Current opinion in cell biology·2026
Same journal

Nuclear determinants of mRNA and protein isoforms.

Current opinion in cell biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Heteromulticellular Stromal Cells in Scaffold-free 3D Cultures of Epithelial Cancer Cells to Drive Invasion
09:18

Heteromulticellular Stromal Cells in Scaffold-free 3D Cultures of Epithelial Cancer Cells to Drive Invasion

Published on: April 4, 2025

Dynamic interplay between the collagen scaffold and tumor evolution.

Mikala Egeblad1, Morten G Rasch, Valerie M Weaver

  • 1Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA. egeblad@cshl.edu

Current Opinion in Cell Biology
|September 9, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) regulates cell and tissue function through physical and biochemical signals. Abnormal collagen in the ECM impacts tumor growth, spread, and treatment effectiveness.

More Related Videos

Preparation of 3D Collagen Gels and Microchannels for the Study of 3D Interactions In Vivo
10:24

Preparation of 3D Collagen Gels and Microchannels for the Study of 3D Interactions In Vivo

Published on: May 9, 2016

Three-Dimensional In Vitro Biomimetic Model of Neuroblastoma Using Collagen-Based Scaffolds
07:48

Three-Dimensional In Vitro Biomimetic Model of Neuroblastoma Using Collagen-Based Scaffolds

Published on: July 9, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Heteromulticellular Stromal Cells in Scaffold-free 3D Cultures of Epithelial Cancer Cells to Drive Invasion
09:18

Heteromulticellular Stromal Cells in Scaffold-free 3D Cultures of Epithelial Cancer Cells to Drive Invasion

Published on: April 4, 2025

Preparation of 3D Collagen Gels and Microchannels for the Study of 3D Interactions In Vivo
10:24

Preparation of 3D Collagen Gels and Microchannels for the Study of 3D Interactions In Vivo

Published on: May 9, 2016

Three-Dimensional In Vitro Biomimetic Model of Neuroblastoma Using Collagen-Based Scaffolds
07:48

Three-Dimensional In Vitro Biomimetic Model of Neuroblastoma Using Collagen-Based Scaffolds

Published on: July 9, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides structural support and regulates cell behavior through physical and biochemical cues.
  • ECM remodeling, including proteolysis, is crucial for tissue homeostasis and development.
  • Collagens, particularly type I and IV, are abundant ECM components with significant roles in cellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the multifaceted roles of the ECM in cellular functions.
  • To investigate how collagen alterations influence tumor progression and therapeutic outcomes.
  • To highlight the significance of ECM biochemical and biophysical signaling in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on ECM composition, remodeling, and signaling.
  • Analysis of the impact of collagen expression, proteolysis, and structure on cellular functions.
  • Examination of the relationship between ECM abnormalities and tumor characteristics.

Main Results:

  • ECM acts as a dynamic regulator, not just a scaffold, influencing cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.
  • Aberrant collagen expression, structure, or degradation significantly affects tumor initiation, invasion, and metastasis.
  • ECM modifications correlate with patient response to cancer therapies.

Conclusions:

  • The ECM, particularly its collagen components, plays a critical role in cancer development and progression.
  • Targeting ECM-related pathways presents a potential strategy for cancer treatment.
  • Understanding ECM dynamics is essential for advancing cancer research and therapy.