FIGURE 4.

ECM remodeling of the tumor stroma around primary solid carcinoma occurs on various length scales. The remodeling of the tumor stroma can be caused by cancer cells and stroma embedded tumor associated cells, such as macrophages and fibroblasts. For example, there can be deposition of ECM molecules (1), posttranslational level of chemical alteration (2), proteolytic degradation through proteases, such as ADAM8 or MMPs (3) and force-driven physical restructuring (4). Through the ECM rearrangement are structural and mechanical characteristics affected that in turn alter the migratory capacity of cancer cells and may change the migration mode of cancer cells.