Extracellular matrix in cancer progression and therapy

Area of Science:

• Oncology and Cancer Biology
• Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering
• Cellular and Molecular Biology

Background:

• The tumor microenvironment (TME) and its cellular heterogeneity are critical areas of cancer research.
• The extracellular matrix (ECM), a key TME component, is gaining significant attention for its role in cancer.
• Tumor ECM composition and structure differ substantially from normal tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the multifaceted roles of the tumor extracellular matrix (ECM) in cancer progression.
• To highlight the impact of ECM-cell interactions on cancer development and treatment efficacy.
• To discuss therapeutic strategies targeting the tumor ECM.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies on tumor ECM.
• Analysis of biomolecular, biophysical, and mechanochemical interactions within the TME.
• Examination of ECM's influence on cancer hallmarks and therapeutic responses.

Main Results:

• The tumor ECM significantly influences cancer initiation, growth, angiogenesis, and invasion.
• ECM-cell interactions regulate cancer progression and systemic treatment effectiveness.
• The tumor ECM presents a viable target for novel cancer therapies.

Conclusions:

• The tumor ECM plays a complex and critical role throughout cancer progression.
• Targeting the tumor ECM offers promising avenues for enhancing cancer therapy efficacy.
• Understanding ECM-cell dynamics is crucial for developing effective cancer treatments.