Tumors as organs: complex tissues that interface with the entire organism

By M. Egeblad, E. Nakasone, Zena Werb. 2010

1,209 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Solid tumors are not simply clones of cancer cells. Instead, they are abnormal organs composed of multiple cell types and extracellular matrix. Some aspects of tumor development resemble processes seen in developing organs, while others are more akin to tissue remodeling. Some microenvironments, particularly those associated with tissue injury, are favorable for progression of mutant cells while others restrict it. Cancer cells can also instruct surrounding tissues to undergo changes that promote malignancy. Understanding the complex ways in which cancer cells interact with their surroundings, both locally in the tumor organ and systemically in the body as a whole, has implications for effective cancer prevention and therapy.

Subfields: Cancer Research, Oncology, Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

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Citations in the corpus

Extracellular matrix: a dynamic niche component during cancer progression (2012, positive): “In contrast, interstitial matrix is rich in fibrillar collagens, proteoglycans, and various glycoproteins such as tenascin C and fibronectin and is thus highly charged, hydrated, and contributes greatly to the tensile strength of tissues (Egeblad et al., 2010b).”
The biology of YAP/TAZ: hippo signaling and beyond. (2014, background): “Perhaps not by chance, tumors have long been recognized as “caricatures” of normal organs, or as “wounds that never heal” (51).”
Three-Dimensional in Vitro Cell Culture Models in Drug Discovery and Drug Repositioning (2018, background): “In tumors, carcinoma-associated fibroblasts can stimulate tumor cell growth, induce angiogenesis and promote inflammation and stromal cells within cancer stem cell niches drive drug resistance (Egeblad et al., 2010; Jones et al., 2016; Prieto-Vila et al., 2017).”
Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Angiogenesis and Cancer (2019, background): “At present, the tumor niche is considered an independent organ able to maintain itself (51).”
Extracellular Matrix Degradation and Remodeling in Development and Disease (2011, background): “Consistent with these results, activation of collagen receptor DDR1 promotes macrophage infiltration in atherosclerotic plaques (Egeblad et al. 2010b).”
Integrin Signaling in Cancer: Mechanotransduction, Stemness, Epithelial Plasticity, and Therapeutic Resistance (2019, background): “Cancer cells subsequently recruit various host cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME), including fibroblasts, angiogenic endothelial cells, and immune cells, to aid their invasive growth (Egeblad et al., 2010a).”
The Matrisome: In Silico Definition and In Vivo Characterization by Proteomics of Normal and Tumor Extracellular Matrices (2011, background): “allowing them to proliferate but need also to be surrounded by a locally permissive microenvironment, which markedly affects tumor progression (53, 54).”
Genetics and biology of prostate cancer (2018, background): “In prostate cancer, various signaling molecules (e.g., androgen, FGFs, SRC, andTGF-β) are involved in these heterotypic and homotypic interaction networks across cancer cells and stromal cells (Egeblad et al. 2010; Karlou et al. 2010; Hanahan and Coussens 2012; Junttila and de Sauvage 2013).”