1. The extracellular matrix of tumors: a focus on fibronectin and fibulin-5 -- 2. Internalization of collagen: an important matrix turnover pathway in cancer -- 3. Lumican, a Small Leucine-Rich Proteoglycan, and Its Biological Function in Tumor Progression -- 4. Versican: Role in Cancer Tumorigenesis -- 5. Engineering advanced models of the glioblastoma microenvironment using biomaterials -- 6. Breaching and opening basement membrane barriers: the anchor cell leads the way.

This volume provides an overview on the influence of Extracellular Matrix (ECM) on tumor progression. It covers topics such as signaling induced by structural ECM proteins including collagen and fibronectin, the control of ECM deposition and the turnover in tumors. Also discussed are the migration of cells through basement membranes and the function of proteoglycans including lumican and veriscan in tumor progression. Biomaterial-based in-vitro models as well as C. elegans models of the tumor microenvironment are used to show how these models can lead to a greater understanding of the disease mechanisms that promote cancer progression. The book addresses researchers working on cancer biology or ECM, and oncologists alike.