Table 1 ECM components and their roles in Cancer progression
From: Mechanical forces in the tumor microenvironment: roles, pathways, and therapeutic approaches
Components | ECM-Related Properties | Implications in Cancer Progression | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
Collagen | Forms a triple helix structure, providing mechanical support to the ECM; regulates ECM stiffness and fluid pressure. | Increased collagen fiber quantity and cross-linking promote tumor invasion. | |
Proteoglycan | Promotes ECM stability, regulates cell adhesion and motility, mediates cell-ECM communication, and aids ECM maturation and stability. Promotes ECM remodeling; protects collagen fibers from proteolytic degradation, maintaining ECM stability. | Promotes tumor proliferation and invasion. Promotes ECM to retain its loose characteristics, enhancing tumor proliferation and invasion. Enhances adhesion between tumor cells and endothelial cells, promoting tumor angiogenesis. | |
Laminin | Maintains the mechanical strength and stability of the basement membrane. | Binds integrins and promotes tumor cell invasion. | |
Fibronectin | Facilitates ECM assembly. | Remodels ECM to provide a pre-metastatic niche for tumors; inhibits tumor cell apoptosis. |