The PDAC Extracellular Matrix: A Review of the ECM Protein Composition, Tumor Cell Interaction, and Therapeutic Strategies.

ABSTRACT: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is notorious for a dense fibrotic stroma that is interlaced with a collagen-based extracellular matrix (ECM) that plays an important role in tumor biology. Traditionally thought to only provide a physical barrier from host responses and systemic chemotherapy, new studies have demonstrated that the ECM maintains biomechanical and biochemical properties of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and restrains tumor growth. Recent studies have shown that the ECM augments tumor stiffness, interstitial fluid pressure, cell-to-cell junctions, and microvascularity using a mix of biomechanical and biochemical signals to influence tumor fate for better or worse. In addition, PDAC tumors have been shown to use ECM-derived peptide fragments as a nutrient source in nut

SUBMITTER: Perez VM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8526858 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature