Fibroblasts May Cause Cancer Metastasis

Fibroblasts are the cells in the body that are supposed to maintain the structure of the extracellular matrix by making proteins that are precursors of the components of the matrix. They are usually mentioned in the same breath as wound healing, and tissue repair. However, studies have recently shown that there are fibroblasts that have been associated with tumor cell metastasis. In this paper, Gaggioli et al have shown in a series of experiments that tumor-associated fibroblasts not only promote metastasis of cancer cells, but actually pave the way by creating tracks in the extracellular matrix. Their analysis of clinical samples revealed that a similar phenomena occurs in vivo. The group found that the fibroblasts utilize Rho and ROCK to contract and tear holes in the matrix as they travel along, thereby leaving a trail for the cancer cells to follow.
Review on Fibroblasts in Cancer

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