Figure 1.

Towards extracellular matrix (ECM) normalization for improved treatment of solid tumors. Healthy ECM versus aberrant tumor ECM (left and right panels, respectively). Healthy ECM is characterized by the presence of an intact basement membrane, non-activated fibroblasts and random arrangement of collagen fibers (left panel). Aberrant tumor ECM features the tumor vessel basement membrane with a heterogeneous thickness that allows the dissemination of tumor cells as well as accumulation of nano-formulations. The presence of collagen fibers which are aligned in an ordered fashion and activated fibroblasts are other characteristics of tumor ECM.