Abstract

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Title:: Advances of research on extracellular matrix stiffness in hepatocellular carcinoma

Author(s):: WEI Jiayun1; 2; YAO Jia1; 2; LI Xun1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 1. the First Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China 2. Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China 3. Department of General Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China 4. Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment, School of Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China 5. Gansu Provincial Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Lanzhou 730000, China

Keywords:: Keywords: extracellular matrix matrix stiffness hepatocellular carcinoma review

Abstract:: Abstract: Tumor microenvironment plays an important role in tumorigenesis and development of cancer, and its main component is extracellular matrix which is a complex macromolecular network with unique physical, biochemical and biomechanical properties. More and more evidences show that stiffness, as an important biomechanical property of extracellular matrix, has a significant effect on the biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Specifically, high matrix stiffness enhances the chemotherapy-resistance, proliferation, invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells, while low matrix stiffness promotes the expression of stemness-related markers and improves the ability of cell cloning initiation after chemotherapy. Understanding how matrix stiffness affects cancer progression helps to develop new therapeutic interventions for tumor microenvironments.