Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 22, 2025
A Label-Free Segmentation Approach for Intravital Imaging of Mammary Tumor Microenvironment
Published on: May 24, 2022
Tumor Microenvironment: Extracellular Matrix Alterations Influence Tumor Progression.
Sylvie Brassart-Pasco1,2, Stéphane Brézillon1,2, Bertrand Brassart1,2
1Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, SFR CAP-Santé (FED 4231), Laboratoire de Biochimie Médicale et Biologie Moléculaire, Reims, France.
Altered extracellular matrix (ECM) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) impacts cancer progression and patient diagnosis. Understanding ECM changes and fragments offers potential for new cancer biomarkers.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The tumor microenvironment (TME) comprises diverse cells within an altered extracellular matrix (ECM).
- ECM dynamics influence tumor cell behavior, including invasion and metastasis.
- ECM alterations are linked to poorer patient prognosis and can be induced by factors like hypoxia and inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on extracellular matrix (ECM) alterations in cancer.
- To explore the role of ECM degradation and fragments in cancer progression.
- To highlight the potential of ECM components and fragments as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on ECM alterations, degradation, and cross-linking.
- Analysis of the role of ECM fragments (matrikines, matricryptins) in cancer.
- Examination of ECM protein signatures as prognostic biomarkers.
Main Results:
- ECM alterations, including collagen reorganization and altered proteoglycan expression, facilitate tumor cell invasion and metastasis.
- Protease-mediated ECM degradation releases angiogenic factors and bioactive fragments.
- Specific ECM protein signatures in the tumor ECM proteome (cancer matrisome) show potential as prognostic biomarkers.
Conclusions:
- ECM alterations are critical drivers of cancer progression and metastasis.
- ECM fragments, matrikines and matricryptins, play significant roles in regulating cancer.
- The study of the cancer matrisome and its fragments offers promising avenues for cancer diagnosis and prognosis.
More Related Videos
09:18Heteromulticellular Stromal Cells in Scaffold-free 3D Cultures of Epithelial Cancer Cells to Drive Invasion
Published on: April 4, 2025
10:55Analyzing the Communication Between Monocytes and Primary Breast Cancer Cells in an Extracellular Matrix Extract ECME-based Three-dimensional System
Published on: January 8, 2018
Related Concept Videos
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment
01:29The 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 Matrix
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is commonly composed of ground substance, a gel-like fluid, fibrous components, and many structurally and functionally diverse...
01:42The Extracellular Matrix
01:26Extracellular Matrix
02:30Metastasis
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
02:07Tumor Progression
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...