The Extracellular Matrix in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer - A Piece of a Puzzle

Angela Cho; Viive M Howell; Emily K Colvin

doi:10.3389/fonc.2015.00245

The Extracellular Matrix in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer - A Piece of a Puzzle

Front Oncol. 2015 Nov 2:5:245. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2015.00245. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Angela Cho¹, Viive M Howell², Emily K Colvin²

Affiliations

¹ School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology Sydney , Sydney, NSW , Australia ; Bill Walsh Translational Cancer Research Laboratory, Kolling Institute, Northern Sydney Local Health District , St. Leonards, NSW , Australia.
² Bill Walsh Translational Cancer Research Laboratory, Kolling Institute, Northern Sydney Local Health District , St. Leonards, NSW , Australia ; Sydney Medical School Northern, University of Sydney , Sydney, NSW , Australia.

Abstract

Epithelial ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women and the most lethal gynecological malignancy. Extracellular matrix (ECM) is an integral component of both the normal and tumor microenvironment. ECM composition varies between tissues and is crucial for maintaining normal function and homeostasis. Dysregulation and aberrant deposition or loss of ECM components is implicated in ovarian cancer progression. The mechanisms by which tumor cells induce ECM remodeling to promote a malignant phenotype are yet to be elucidated. A thorough understanding of the role of the ECM in ovarian cancer is needed for the development of effective biomarkers and new therapies.

Keywords: collagen; extracellular matrix; ovarian cancer; proteases; proteoglycan.

Publication types

Review