Extracellular Matrix and Colorectal Cancer: How Surrounding Microenvironment Affects Cancer Cell Behavior?

Sara Crotti, Martina Piccoli, Flavio Rizzolio, Antonio Giordano, Donato Nitti, Marco Agostini

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    114 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Colorectal cancer (CRC) whit more than a million of new cases per year is one of the most common registered cancers worldwide with few treatment options especially for advanced and metastatic patients.The tumor microenvironment is composed by extracellular matrix (ECM), cells, and interstitial fluids. Among all these constituents, in the last years an increased interest around the ECM and its potential role in cancer tumorigenesis is arisen. During cancer progression the ECM structure and composition became disorganized, allowing cellular transformation and metastasis. Up to now, the focus has mainly been on the characterization of CRC microenvironment analyzing separately structural ECM components or cell secretome modifications. A more extensive view that interconnects these aspects should be addressed. In this review, biochemical (secretome) and biomechanical (structure and architecture) changes of tumor microenvironment will be discussed, giving suggestions on how these changes can affect cancer cell behavior. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 967–975, 2017.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)967-975
    Number of pages9
    JournalJournal of Cellular Physiology
    Volume232
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    StatePublished - May 1 2017

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Physiology
    • Clinical Biochemistry
    • Cell Biology

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