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Purpose of review
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissue is composed of multiple cell types embedded in an extracellular matrix (ECM) that actively participates in disease progression, spread and treatment response. In this review, we provide an update of our current knowledge about the ECM landscape of HNSCC, its functions, methods of analysis, and nonimmunological stromal targeting strategies that modify the tumor ECM to improve conventional and emerging therapies.
Recent findings
The tumor ECM differs significantly from that of normal tissue in abundance, composition, organization and mechanical properties. In HNSCC, signaling between malignant epithelial cells and stromal cells prompts the upregulation of a set of ECM components that serve as substrates for carcinoma cell migration, modulate…