2. Academic Validation
  3. Cancer cells transfer invasive properties through microRNAs contained in collagen tracks

Cancer cells transfer invasive properties through microRNAs contained in collagen tracks

  • Cell Rep. 2025 Dec 23;44(12):116725. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116725.
Lucile Rouyer 1,  Léa Normand 1,  Elodie Richard 1,  Nathalie Allain 1,  Julie Giraud 1,  Sylvaine Di-Tommaso 2,  Cyril Dourthe 2,  Anne-Aurélie Raymond 2,  Jean-William Dupuy 3,  Kevin Moreau 4,  Richard Iggo 1,  Gaetan MacGrogan 5,  Nathalie Dugot-Senant 6,  Anthony Bouter 7,  Sisareuth Tan 7,  Alexandre Favereaux 8,  Violaine Moreau 1,  Reini F Luco 4,  Manon Ros 1,  Frédéric Saltel 9
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 University of Bordeaux, INSERM, UMR1312, BRIC, BoRdeaux Institute of on Cology, 2 rue Dr Hoffmann Martinot, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
  • 2 University of Bordeaux, INSERM, UMR1312, BRIC, BoRdeaux Institute of on Cology, 2 rue Dr Hoffmann Martinot, 33076 Bordeaux, France; Oncoprot, UAR 005 TBMcore, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
  • 3 Oncoprot, UAR 005 TBMcore, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
  • 4 Institut Curie, CNRS, UMR3348, University Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France.
  • 5 University of Bordeaux, INSERM, UMR1312, BRIC, BoRdeaux Institute of on Cology, 2 rue Dr Hoffmann Martinot, 33076 Bordeaux, France; Department of Biopathology, Institut Bergonié, Regional Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bordeaux, France.
  • 6 Histopathology, UAR 005 TBMcore, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
  • 7 University of Bordeaux, Institute of Chemistry and Biology of Membranes and Nano-Objects, UMR 5248, CNRS, IPB, 33600 Pessac, France.
  • 8 University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR, 5297 Bordeaux, France.
  • 9 University of Bordeaux, INSERM, UMR1312, BRIC, BoRdeaux Institute of on Cology, 2 rue Dr Hoffmann Martinot, 33076 Bordeaux, France; Oncoprot, UAR 005 TBMcore, 33076 Bordeaux, France. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 41379613 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116725
Abstract

Invasion is a prerequisite for metastasis formation. During tumor development, type I Collagen overexpression increases tumor microenvironment stiffness, facilitating Cancer cell dissemination. During breast Cancer cell migration in 2D and 3D matrices, we observed membrane debris left behind, attached to the Collagen fibrils, along the migration path. We named these structures Collagen -tracks. Their formation is stimulated by the interaction between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and matrix receptors, such as Discoidin Domain Receptor 1 (DDR1). They present a specific nucleic acid and protein contents. When deposited by highly invasive breast Cancer cells, internalized Collagen tracks reprogram non-invasive cells into highly pro-metastatic ones, increasing their ECM degradation and invasive capacities. This cell reprogramming is dependent on specific MicroRNAs (miRNAs) identified in the Collagen tracks. Collagen tracks thus represent a form of cell-cell communication important for driving tumor invasion that could be targeted to prevent metastasis.

Keywords

CP: Cancer; ECM degradation; cell-cell communication; collagen; collagen fibrils; discoidin domain receptor 1; microRNA; migration; triple negative breast cancer; tumor invasion.

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