title: Fibronectin Mechanobiology Regulates Tumorigenesis.
abstract: Fibronectin (Fn) is an essential extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoprotein involved in both physiological and pathological processes. The structure-function relationship of Fn has been and is still being studied, as changes in its molecular structure are integral in regulating (or dysregulating) its biological activitiesviaits cell, matrix component, and growth factor binding sites. Fn comprises three types of repeating modules; among them, FnIII modules are mechanically unstable domains that may be extended/unfolded upon cell traction and either uncover cryptic binding sites or disrupt otherwise exposed binding sites. Cells assemble Fn into a fibrillar network; its conformational flexibility implicates Fn as a critical mechanoregulator of the ECM. Fn has been shown to contribute to altered stroma remodeling during tumorigenesis. This review will discuss (i) the significance of the structure-function relationship of Fn at both the molecular and the matrix scales, (ii) the role of Fn mechanobiology in the regulation of tumorigenesis, and (iii) Fn-related advances in cancer therapy development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, 327 Bard Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA ; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA.
authors.forename: Bo Ri
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA ; Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fischbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, 327 Bard Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA ; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gourdon
keywords: Fibronectin conformational flexibility; Fibronectin mechanics; Tumor progression; Tumor stroma