The matrix in cancer

• Published in: Nature reviews. Cancer Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 217 - 238
• Main Author: Cox, Thomas R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.04.2021; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/337; 631/67; 631/67/327; 631/80; ADAM Proteins - metabolism; ADAMTS Proteins - metabolism; Biomechanics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 1 - metabolism; Breast cancer; Cancer; Cancer cells; Cancer Research; Carcinogenesis; Cathepsins - metabolism; Cell Movement; Collagen - metabolism; Cystatins - metabolism; Developmental stages; Elastin - metabolism; Extracellular matrix; Extracellular Matrix - enzymology; Extracellular Matrix - metabolism; Extracellular Matrix - pathology; Extracellular Matrix Proteins - metabolism; Fibrillins - metabolism; Glucuronidase - metabolism; Glycoproteins - metabolism; Health aspects; Humans; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase - metabolism; Lung cancer; Matrix Metalloproteinases - metabolism; Metastases; Metastasis; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasms - enzymology; Neoplasms - metabolism; Neoplasms - pathology; Oncology, Experimental; Pancreas; Pancreatic cancer; Physiological aspects; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Proteoglycans - metabolism; Review Article; Serpins - metabolism; Solid tumors; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases - metabolism; Tolloid-Like Metalloproteinases - metabolism; Tumor Microenvironment; Tumors; Australia
• ISSN: 1474-175X; 1474-1768
• DOI: 10.1038/s41568-020-00329-7

The extracellular matrix is a fundamental, core component of all tissues and organs, and is essential for the existence of multicellular organisms. From the earliest stages of organism development until death, it regulates and fine-tunes every cellular process in the body. In cancer, the extracellular matrix is altered at the biochemical, biomechanical, architectural and topographical levels, and recent years have seen an exponential increase in the study and recognition of the importance of the matrix in solid tumours. Coupled with the advancement of new technologies to study various elements of the matrix and cell–matrix interactions, we are also beginning to see the deployment of matrix-centric, stromal targeting cancer therapies. This Review touches on many of the facets of matrix biology in solid cancers, including breast, pancreatic and lung cancer, with the aim of highlighting some of the emerging interactions of the matrix and influences that the matrix has on tumour onset, progression and metastatic dissemination, before summarizing the ongoing work in the field aimed at developing therapies to co-target the matrix in cancer and cancer metastasis. Alterations in the extracellular matrix at the biochemical, biomechanical, architectural and topographical levels contribute to the development and progression of solid tumours. Our increased understanding of matrix biology is leading to the development of new approaches that co-target the matrix in cancer, including in metastasis.