The ECM is a crucial player in metastasis, the process by which cancer cells spread from the primary tumor to distant sites. Alterations in the ECM composition can facilitate the detachment of cancer cells from the primary tumor. Moreover, the degraded ECM creates pathways that enable cancer cells to invade surrounding tissues and enter the bloodstream. Some ECM components, such as fibronectin and laminin, also provide docking sites that assist in the adhesion of circulating tumor cells to distant organs.
