Journal Article

Matricellular proteins: priming the tumour microenvironment for cancer development and metastasis

Rustgi, A K, Wong, G S

2013

Overview

Matricellular proteins have been classified as a family of non-structural matrix proteins capable of modulating a variety of biological processes within the extracellular matrix (ECM). These proteins are expressed dynamically and their cellular functions are highly dependent upon cues from the local environment. Recent studies have shown an increasing appreciation of the key roles these ECM proteins play within the tumour microenvironment. Induced by either tumour cells or tumour stromal components, matricellular proteins initiate downstream signalling events that lead to proliferation, invasion, matrix remodelling and dissemination to pre-metastatic niches in other organs. In this review, we summarise and discuss the current knowledge of the diverse roles these proteins play within the microenvironment that influences tumour progression and potential for future therapies targeting the tumour microenvironment.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: 631/45/612 / 692/699/67/322 / 692/699/67/327 / Angiogenesis / Biological and medical sciences / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biomedicine / Cancer / Cancer Research / Cell adhesion & migration / Cytokines / Drug Resistance / Epidemiology / Extracellular matrix / Extracellular Matrix - metabolism / Extracellular Matrix Proteins - physiology / Fibroblasts / Humans / Medical prognosis / Medical sciences / Metastasis / mini-review / Minireview / Molecular Medicine / Neoplasm Invasiveness / Neoplasm Metastasis / Neoplasms - metabolism / Neoplasms - pathology / Oncology / Proteins / Signal Transduction / Tumor Microenvironment / Tumorigenesis / Tumors / Vascular endothelial growth factor / Wound healing