Revisiting the Tenascins: Exploitable as Cancer Targets?

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Extracellular Matrix Biology
• Cancer Therapeutics

Background:

• Tumors rely on the tumor microenvironment (TME), including extracellular matrix (ECM) and host cells, for progression.
• The TME creates a unique, tumor-permissive niche distinct from normal physiological conditions.
• The TME's composition offers potential therapeutic targets for anti-cancer strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the expression of all four tenascin family members in tumors.
• To focus on tenascin-C and tenascin-W as promising diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
• To discuss their oncogenic functions and potential in anti-cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of tenascin expression in tumors.
• Analysis of oncogenic functions of tenascin-C and tenascin-W.
• Evaluation of their potential as diagnostic and targetable molecules.

Main Results:

• All four tenascin family members are expressed in the ECM surrounding cancer cells.
• Tenascin-C and tenascin-W show high expression in tumor stroma with low abundance in healthy tissues.
• These molecules exhibit oncogenic functions and hold potential for clinical applications.

Conclusions:

• Tenascin-C and tenascin-W are key components of the tumor microenvironment.
• Their tumor-specific expression and oncogenic roles make them valuable targets for novel anti-cancer therapies.
• Targeting tenascins could lead to improved cancer treatment outcomes.