III型胶原蛋白在乳腺癌中的研究进展

Progress of the Study on Type III Collagen in Breast Cancer

乳腺癌(Breast cancer, BC)于2020年在全球新增癌症病例成为了最常见癌症,且发病率逐年升高。胶原蛋白是构成细胞外基质(Extracellular Matrix, ECM)的主要成分,近年来的研究发现III型胶原蛋白(Collagen Type III, COLIII)在乳腺癌的发生、发展过程中发挥重要作用,并对肿瘤微环境(Tumor micro-environment, TME)的维持有重要意义。其中,癌症相关成纤维细胞(Cancer-associated fibroblasts, CAFs)在建立和重塑ECM结构中扮演关键角色,调控肿瘤细胞通过TME入侵的进程。但由于该体系庞大,通过分泌细胞因子和趋化因子与癌细胞相互作用的机制复杂,各成分及其亚型在癌症进展中的角色尚存争议。本文基于TME在乳腺恶性肿瘤中的研究现状以及作为ECM中重要成分的COLIII的性质结构、形态分布,分析COLIII通过改变ECM的机械力与刚度影响乳腺癌行为的机制,同时充分讨论特殊结构、来源的COLIII在微环境中的不同功能及作用方式,评估其应用于癌症治疗的可能性。

Breast cancer (BC) became the most common cancer in the world in 2020, and its incidence rate increased year by year. Collagen is the main component of the Extracellular Matrix (ECM), and recent studies have found that Collagen Type III (COLIII) plays an important role in the development of breast cancer and is important for the maintenance of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Among them, Cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) is a key factor in establishing and remodeling ECM structure, regulating tumor cell invasion through TME. However, due to the complex mechanism by which cytokines and chemokines interact with cancer cells, the roles of various components and their subtypes in cancer progression are still controversial. Herein, based on the current research of TME in breast cancer, and the property, structure, and distribution of COLIII, an important component of ECM, we will explain the potential mechanism by which COLIII affects the behaviour of breast cancer by altering the mechanical force and stiffness of ECM. At the same time, we will also discuss the different functions and modes of action of COLIII with special structures and origins in the microenvironment, as well as evaluate the possibilities of its application in cancer therapy.