Hyaluronan in the tumor microenvironment

SPINELLI F; VITALE D; SEVIC I; ALANIZ L

Tumor Microenvironment - Extracellular Matrix Components

Springer Nature

Año: 2020; p. 67 - 89

The extracellular matrix is part of the microenvironment and its functions are associated with physical and chemical properties of the tissue. Among the extracellular components, the glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan is a key component, defining both physical and biochemical characteristics of the healthy matrices. The hyaluronan metabolism is strictly regulated in physiological conditions, but in the tumoral tissues, its expression, size and binding proteins interaction are dysregulated. Hyaluronan from the tumor microenvironment promotes tumor cell proliferation, invasion, immune evasion, stemness alterations as well as drug resistance. This chapter will describe data regarding novel concepts of hyaluronan functions in the tumor. Additionally, we will discuss potential clinical applications of targeting HA metabolism in cancer therapy.