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Review
. 2024 Dec 17;25(24):13523.
doi: 10.3390/ijms252413523.

The Multifaced Role of Collagen in Cancer Development and Progression

Gabriele Lo Buglio  1   2 , Alessandra Lo Cicero  1 , Simona Campora  1 , Giulio Ghersi  1   3
Affiliations
Review

The Multifaced Role of Collagen in Cancer Development and Progression

Gabriele Lo Buglio et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Collagen is a crucial protein in the extracellular matrix (ECM) essential for preserving tissue architecture and supporting crucial cellular functions like proliferation and differentiation. There are twenty-eight identified types of collagen, which are further divided into different subgroups. This protein plays a critical role in regulating tissue homeostasis. However, in solid tumors, the balance can be disrupted, due to an abundance of collagen in the tumor microenvironment, which significantly affects tumor growth, cell invasion, and metastasis. It is important to investigate the specific types of collagens in cancer ECM and their distinct roles in tumor progression to comprehend their unique contribution to tumor behavior. The diverse pathophysiological functions of different collagen types in cancers illustrate collagen's dual roles, offering potential therapeutic options and serving as prognostic markers.

Keywords: collagen; extracellular matrix; solid tumor; tumor microenvironment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Author Giulio Ghersi was employed by the company Abiel srl. The authors declare that this research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of the major components of tumor microenvironment in solid tumors. The tumor microenvironment mainly consists of tumor cells, immune cells, stromal cells, and extracellular matrix. The primary factor contributing to matrix stiffness is the excessive presence of collagen, which significantly impacts various crucial biological processes throughout tumor development.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Classification of collagens based on supramolecular assembly and a schematic overview of the major roles of each collagen type in tumorigenesis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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