The extracellular matrix: a dynamic niche in cancer progression

The local microenvironment, or niche, of a cancer cell plays important roles in cancer development. A major component of the niche is the extracellular matrix (ECM), a complex network of macromolecules with distinctive physical, biochemical, and biomechanical properties. Although tightly controlled...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of cell biology 2012-02, Vol.196 (4), p.395-406
Main Authors: Lu, Pengfei, Weaver, Valerie M, Werb, Zena
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Angiogenesis
Cancer
Cellular biology
Disease Progression
Extracellular Matrix - pathology
Homeostasis
Humans
Metastasis
Neoplasms - physiopathology
Reviews
Topography
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The local microenvironment, or niche, of a cancer cell plays important roles in cancer development. A major component of the niche is the extracellular matrix (ECM), a complex network of macromolecules with distinctive physical, biochemical, and biomechanical properties. Although tightly controlled during embryonic development and organ homeostasis, the ECM is commonly deregulated and becomes disorganized in diseases such as cancer. Abnormal ECM affects cancer progression by directly promoting cellular transformation and metastasis. Importantly, however, ECM anomalies also deregulate behavior of stromal cells, facilitate tumor-associated angiogenesis and inflammation, and thus lead to generation of a tumorigenic microenvironment. Understanding how ECM composition and topography are maintained and how their deregulation influences cancer progression may help develop new therapeutic interventions by targeting the tumor niche.
ISSN:0021-9525
1540-8140
DOI:10.1083/jcb.201102147