To flourish, cancers greatly depend on their surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME),
and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in TME are critical for cancer occurrence and …

As the crucial non-cellular component of tissues, the extracellular matrix (ECM) provides
both physical support and signaling regulation to cells. Some ECM molecules provide a …

Although the biological functions of cell and tissue can be regulated by biochemical factors
(eg, growth factors, hormones), the biophysical effects of materials on the regulation of …

Collective cell migration has a key role during morphogenesis and during wound healing
and tissue renewal in the adult, and it is involved in cancer spreading. In addition to …

Accumulating evidence indicates that intratumoral heterogeneity contributes to the
development of resistance to anticancer therapeutics. Fibroblasts, which are components of …

Fibronectin is an extracellular matrix protein that is present during periods of change within
tissues. It is upregulated and necessary in a number of developmental contexts, and it is …

Stem cell factor (SCF) is a dimeric molecule that exerts its biological functions by binding to
and activating the receptor tyrosine kinase c-Kit. Activation of c-Kit leads to its …

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a key regulator of growth factor receptor-and integrin-
mediated signals, governing fundamental processes in normal and cancer cells through its …

Integrin-based adhesion has served as a model for studying the central role of adhesion in
migration. In this article, we outline modes of migration, both integrin-dependent and …

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase that plays critical roles in
integrin-mediated signal transductions and also participates in signaling by other cell …