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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

A Mouse Model to Investigate the Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Tumor Growth
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A Mouse Model to Investigate the Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Tumor Growth

Published on: December 22, 2020

Circulating fibronectin controls tumor growth.

Anja von Au1, Matthaeus Vasel, Sabrina Kraft

  • 1Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany.

Neoplasia (New York, N.Y.)
|August 3, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Circulating fibronectin significantly promotes tumor blood vessel growth and metastasis, outperforming local fibronectin. High fibronectin levels in tumors predict poorer outcomes in cancer patients, suggesting its use as a prognostic biomarker.

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Published on: November 23, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Extracellular Matrix Biology

Background:

  • Fibronectin (FN) is crucial for extracellular matrix structure and angiogenesis.
  • The distinct roles of local versus circulating FN in in vivo angiogenesis remain unclear.
  • Circulating FN has been implicated in various disease pathologies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the contribution of circulating fibronectin to blood vessel formation and tumor growth in vivo.
  • To investigate the mechanisms by which circulating fibronectin influences tumor angiogenesis.
  • To assess the prognostic value of fibronectin in human cancers.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized transgenic mouse models to differentiate the effects of local and circulating fibronectin.
  • Quantified fibronectin levels, blood vessel density, and tumor growth.
  • Analyzed human cancer patient arrays (breast and prostate) for fibronectin staining intensity and patient mortality.
  • Investigated the interaction between fibronectin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the tumor microenvironment.

Main Results:

  • Circulating fibronectin significantly enhances blood vessel formation and maturation in bone metastases, surpassing the effect of locally produced fibronectin.
  • Circulating fibronectin upregulates local FN production via a positive feedback loop.
  • Circulating fibronectin increases matrix-bound vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), promoting angiogenesis.
  • Tumor fibronectin content positively correlates with blood vessel density and tumor growth in mice.
  • High fibronectin staining in human breast and prostate tumors correlates with increased patient mortality.

Conclusions:

  • Circulating fibronectin is a key driver of tumor angiogenesis and growth by modulating VEGF availability and response.
  • Fibronectin's role in promoting tumor vascularization is more significant from circulating sources than local ones.
  • Tumor fibronectin content serves as a potential prognostic biomarker for breast, prostate, and possibly other cancers.