Journal Article

Extracellular matrix remodeling in tumor progression and immune escape: from mechanisms to treatments

Yang, Shanshan, Zhang, Zhiren, Yu, Xi, Li, Yingpu, Zhang, Sifan, Xiao, Min, Dou, He, Wang, Xueying, Yuan, Zhennan

2023

Overview

The malignant tumor is a multi-etiological, systemic and complex disease characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation and distant metastasis. Anticancer treatments including adjuvant therapies and targeted therapies are effective in eliminating cancer cells but in a limited number of patients. Increasing evidence suggests that the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in tumor development through changes in macromolecule components, degradation enzymes and stiffness. These variations are under the control of cellular components in tumor tissue via the aberrant activation of signaling pathways, the interaction of the ECM components to multiple surface receptors, and mechanical impact. Additionally, the ECM shaped by cancer regulates immune cells which results in an immune suppressive microenvironment and hinders the efficacy of immunotherapies. Thus, the ECM acts as a barrier to protect cancer from treatments and supports tumor progression. Nevertheless, the profound regulatory network of the ECM remodeling hampers the design of individualized antitumor treatment. Here, we elaborate on the composition of the malignant ECM, and discuss the specific mechanisms of the ECM remodeling. Precisely, we highlight the impact of the ECM remodeling on tumor development, including proliferation, anoikis, metastasis, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and immune escape. Finally, we emphasize ECM \"normalization\" as a potential strategy for anti-malignant treatment.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Adjuvant treatment / Angiogenesis / Anoikis / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biomedicine / Breast cancer / Cancer / Cancer metabolism / Cancer Research / Carcinogens / Care and treatment / Cell growth / Cell proliferation / Collagen / Collagen orientation / Connective tissue / Cytotoxicity / Development and progression / Enzymes / Extracellular matrix / Extracellular Matrix - metabolism / Fibroblasts / Heparan sulfate / Homeostasis / Humans / Hypoxia / Immune escape / Immune evasion / Immunotherapy / Medical prognosis / Metastases / Metastasis / Microenvironments / Neoplasms - metabolism / Oncology / Pancreatic cancer / Physiological aspects / Proteins / Review / Signal transduction / Stiffness / Transcription factors / Tumor Microenvironment - physiology / Tumors