Host tissue and extracellular microenvironment

The host tissue and extracellular microenvironment (ECM) represent the complex, non-cellular network of macromolecules and signaling factors that surround cells within a tissue (NCI Thesaurus, C15313). This environment provides essential structural support and biochemical cues that regulate cell behavior, including proliferation, migration, and survival (Frantz et al., 2010, Journal of Cell Science). In pathological states such as cancer or fibrosis, the microenvironment undergoes significant remodeling, characterized by increased stiffness and the accumulation of growth factors that promote disease progression (Anderson & Simon, 2020, Current Biology). Therapeutic strategies targeting this environment aim to disrupt these supportive structures or normalize the "soil" to enhance the delivery and efficacy of other treatments (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2016). However, because these components are ubiquitous in healthy tissues, achieving selectivity remains a significant challenge, often leading to concerns regarding systemic tissue integrity and wound healing (Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2019).

Other names

Extracellular matrixTumor microenvironmentStromaInterstitial spaceECMTME

Enzymatic degradation of extracellular matrix components (e.g., hyaluronan, collagen) and inhibition of matrix remodeling enzymes like matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).