Title:Recent Advances in Strategies for Extracellular Matrix Degradation and Synthesis Inhibition for Improved Therapy of Solid Tumors
Volume: 26
Issue: 42
Author(s): Kamalpreet Kaur Sandha, Monu Kumar Shukla and Prem N. Gupta*
Affiliation:
- PK-PD Toxicology & Formulation Division, CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu, J&K, 180001,India
Keywords:
Solid tumor, extracellular matrix, collagen, hyaluronic acid, interstitial fluid pressure, nanomedicine.
Abstract: Despite a great deal of efforts made by researchers and the advances in the technology, the treatment of
cancer is very challenging. Significant advances in the field of cancer therapeutics have been made but due to the
complexity of solid tumor microenvironment, specially their dense extracellular matrix (which makes the conditions
favorable for cancer growth, metastasis and acts as a barrier to the chemotherapeutic drugs as well as
nanomedicine), the treatment of solid tumors is difficult. Overexpression of extracellular matrix components such
as collagen, hyaluronan and proteoglycans in solid tumor leads to high interstitial fluid pressure, hypoxia, vascular
collapse and poor perfusion which hinder the diffusion and convection of the drugs into the tumor tissue. This
leads to the emergence of drug resistance and poor antitumor efficacy of chemotherapeutics. A number of approaches
are being investigated in order to modulate this barrier for improved outcome of cancer chemotherapy.
In this review, recent advances in the various approaches for the modulation of the extracellular matrix barrier of
the solid tumor are covered and significant findings are discussed in an attempt to facilitate more investigations in
this potential area to normalize the tumor extracellular matrix for improving drug exposure to solid tumor.
