Collagen tracks containing microRNAs transfer during invasion by cancer cells
Metastasis formation during tumor development and invasion involves overexpression type I collagen and increase in extracellular matrix stiffness, facilitating cancer cell dissemination.
The researchers reveal that cancer cells leave behind collagen-bound membrane debris during migration along collagen fibrils named collagen tracks and inolves interaction between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and matrix receptors, such as discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1).
Collagen tracks transfer invasive traits including microRNAs (miRNAs) to nearby non-invasive cells to reprogram them.
Thus, collagen tracks represent a previously unknown way of communication between tumor cells, highlighting a potential target to limit cancer progression.
https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(25)01497-4
