Fig. 1
From: Biological role of matrix stiffness in tumor growth and treatment
Remodeling of the ECM by crosslinking and deposit of collagen and other ECM proteins. External solid stress and internal stiffness have been continuously interacting during tumor progression. Tumor cells remodel the ECM through CAFs-mediated deposition, cross-linking and degradation of ECM proteins (mainly collagen). Tumor cells sense changes in ECM stiffness through the integrin receptor signaling and MSCs (Piezo 1) to regulate the cytoskeleton, following which undergo a series of adaptive changes that present different cell behavior characteristics