Collagen Plays An Important Part In Breast Cancer Metastasis: Study
Collagen type XII is essential for controlling how the tumour matrix is organised, according to a recent study from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.
High levels of collagen XII can cause breast cancer cells to metastasize, or spread from the primary tumour to different parts of the body, according to research conducted by a team of scientists led by Associate Professor Thomas Cox, Head of the Matrix and Metastasis lab.
The extracellular matrix is a part of the ecosystem that surrounds a tumour and is known as the tumour microenvironment. Cancer cells and the tumour microenvironment are constantly interacting, which has an impact on how a tumour develops.
Although collagen plays a significant role in the tumour microenvironment, it is unclear how exactly collagen affects tumours. According to the research, it may be possible to use measuring the amount of collagen XII in a patient’s tumour biopsy as an additional screening tool to find metastatic breast cancers that are more likely to be aggressive, like the triple-negative variety.
In addition, future therapies might consider targeting collagen XII. According to the first author, Michael Papanicolaou from Garvan, said: Collagen XII seems to be changing the properties of the tumour and making it more aggressive.
It modifies the organisation of collagens to facilitate cancer cells escaping from the tumour and travelling to other locations, such as the lungs.
Is Collagen Stronger Than Steel
Pound for pound, collagen is stronger than steel, yet it remains flexible and pliable. When collagen is strong and healthy, its an impenetrable force that cancer cells cant break through. This is important for survival, because ninety percent of cancer deaths are caused by it spreading, known as metastasizing, to other tissues and organs. Collagen is the gatekeeper that either allows or prevents this spread from happening.
Why Is Cancer Called Collagen Disease
Because collagen is one of the main proteins that hold the ECM together, the loss of this protein or insufficient amounts of it can cause structural weakness and promote the spread of cancer. For this reason, many experts, including Rath, consider cancer a collagen disease.. Additionally, cancer cells have been found to use destructive enzymes
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The Role Of Collagen For Immune Activity In Tumors In Vivo
Several studies have attempted to elucidate the role of collagen for cancer progression and metastasis in vivo. However, only relatively few of these studies specifically investigated the effects of collagen on immune cell infiltration and activity.
The results are in line with a previous study where SPARC-/- mice, which display reduced deposition of fibrillar collagen, were used to study the effects of collagen on pancreatic cancer growth and liver metastasis. Tumors in SPARC-/- mice had decreased levels of collagen type I and III and higher levels of TAM-infiltration, which were associated with reduced survival and increased metastasis . Another study used mice with impaired pro-collagen processing to show that collagens produced selectively by the cancer cells had anti-tumorigenic effects .
In these in vivo studies of the effects of collagen on tumorigenesis and metastasis, it was not investigated how collagen deposition in the tumor affects the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. In one study it was, however, shown that depletion of αSMA+ fibroblasts reduced the amount of collagen, and that this was accompanied by increased efficacy of anti-CTLA-4 therapy .
In late stage murine PDAC, a LOX-inhibitor did not have any effect on survival of the mice but, interestingly, tumors were found to have an increased number of T cells and decreased number of neutrophils . It could thus be of interest to further combine this treatment with immunotherapy.
Kv101 And Orai1 Are Involved In Collagen
Figure 5Kv10.1 and Orai1 are involved in collagen-dependent survival of BC cell lines
Effect of Kv10.1 or Orai1 silencing on the apoptotic MCF-7 and T-47D cells rate. Cells were starved for 48 h and the apoptosis assay was carried out by annexin V/IP staining, values are reported as mean ± SEM of triplicate experiments, *p< 0.05, ANOVA followed by Holm-Sidak post hoc tests. Effect of Kv10.1, Orai1 and Kv10.1 + Orai1 silencing on MCF-7 and T-47D cell mortality. Cells were starved for 48 h and the mortality was measured by Trypan Blue assay, values are reported as mean ± SEM of triplicate experiments, *p< 0.05, ANOVA followed by Holm-Sidak post hoc tests.
Collagen increases Kv10.1 functional channel activity in BC cells
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Does Collagen Help Breast Tissue
However, collagen supplements can help to firm up the skin around the breasts which will make them perkier and less saggy. The reason collagen supplements can make the skin around the breasts appear more youthful is because collagen is a protein which allows the skin to have elasticity, Dr. Gasiorowsky says.
Can Breast Cancer Patients Take Collagen
While there is some research indicating the potential for collagen to slow metastasis, there is not enough evidence to recommend taking supplements after a cancer diagnosis or during treatment. Patients should always consult with their physician before taking any supplement, as some can interfere with treatment.
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High Levels Of Collagen Xii Can Cause Breast Cancer Cells To Metastasize Or Spread From The Primary Tumour To Different Parts Of The Body According To Research Conducted By A Team Of Scientists
Collagen type XII is essential for controlling how the tumour matrix is organised, according to a recent study from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.
High levels of collagen XII can cause breast cancer cells to metastasize, or spread from the primary tumour to different parts of the body, according to research conducted by a team of scientists led by Associate Professor Thomas Cox, Head of the Matrix and Metastasis lab.
This study was published in the journal – Nature Communications.
The extracellular matrix is a part of the ecosystem that surrounds a tumour and is known as the tumour microenvironment. Cancer cells and the tumour microenvironment are constantly interacting, which has an impact on how a tumour develops. Although collagen plays a significant role in the tumour microenvironment, it is unclear how exactly collagen affects tumours.
We still don’t fully understand the extracellular matrix’s role in cancer metastasis. According to senior author Associate Professor Thomas Cox, collagen XII plays an important role in the progression and metastasis of breast cancer.
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Put cancer cells in the role of seeds and the tumour micro environment in that of the soil. We can start to understand what makes some tumours more aggressive than others by studying the extracellular matrix, and consequently, we can start to develop new cancer treatments, he claims.
Regular Articletumorigenesis And Neoplastic Progressiontype Iii Collagen Directs Stromal Organization And Limits Metastasis In A Murine Model Of Breast Cancer
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Supported by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases grant , the Mari Lowe Center for Comparative Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, a Jack Miller-Ebrahimi Foundation gift , and NIH grants , , and , and .
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Disclosures: None declared.
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What Is Col1a1 In Cancer
Collagen type I alpha 1 is reportedly associated with the development of several human diseases. However, the functions and mechanisms of cellular expression of COL1A1 in breast cancer remain unknown. The purpose of this study is to investigate the cellular expression of COL1A1 in breast cancer cells and patients,
What Are Some Types Of Collagen Supplements
In recent years, collagen has become a popular edible supplement. You can buy it in gelatin, capsule, liquid, fruit chew, or powder form.
Collagen supplements comes in three types:
- Gelatin. If you boil collagen for a long time, you end up with gelatin, the most basic form of edible collagen. Thats because the larger proteins found in collagen get broken down into smaller proteins. Collagen is what thickens bone broth.
- Hydrolyzed collagen. Hydrolyzed collagen is the most common type of collagen supplement sold. In this form, the collagen is broken down into basic amino acids, making it easier for your body to absorb. Hydrolyzed collagen is also known as collagen peptides, collagen hydrolysate, and hydrolyzed gelatin.
- Undenatured type II collagen . UC-II is not broken down, so its harder for your body to digest and absorb.
Hydrolyzed collagens dissolve in both hot and cold liquids. You can add them to hot tea or smoothies. Gelatin only dissolves in hot liquid, so its not suitable for cold drinks.
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Does Collagen Suppress Tumor Growth
That was the only study I found that showed a particular type of collagen suppressed tumor growth. A 2018 study found that type 1 collagen promoted breast cancer cell growth and the ability to migrate to distant parts of the body. Another 2018 study also showed that collagen type 1A1 promoted breast cancer metastasis.
Can I Take Hrt During Or After Breast Cancer Treatment
If youve had breast cancer, you may have been told that HRT is too risky.
Emeritus Clinical Professor of Medicine and breast cancer specialist, Dr Avrum Bluming, has spent nearly two decades investigating the risks and benefits of HRT specifically administered to women with a history of breast cancer. Not only a leading cancer specialist, Bluming has a highly personal interest here too. His own wife and daughter had breast cancer and both decided to take HRT.
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The Relationship Among Exosomes Micrornas And Collagen In Cancer
Recent studies have highlighted the relationship among exosomes, microRNAs and collagen in cancer .
Exosomes are membrane-enclosed structures that facilitate communication between cancer cells and the ECM to influence cancer cell survival, growth, and metastasis and the immune system . Cancer-derived exosomes induce the formation of CAFs in the collagen matrix to promote EMT and increase the secretion of MMP-14 to regulate collagen . In addition, collagen enhances exosome secretion . Collagen and exosomes form a mutually beneficial feedback loop to promote cancer progression.
Are Collagen Supplements Safe
Unlike drugs, the FDA doesnt approve dietary supplements to prevent or treat medical conditions. And supplement manufacturers do not need to prove a new product is safe before selling it. However, the FDA does monitor serious adverse impacts of supplements after they hit the market.
The most significant concern with collagen supplements comes from how they are made. Unless labeled as vegan or plant-derived, most collagen supplements come from ground up connective tissue of fish, chicken, or pork. The main concern with collagen supplements derived from animals is that they may contain dangerous heavy metals or other contaminants.
A review of 11 collagen supplements by ConsumerLab found cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, in one brand. To ensure the purity of supplements you take, Consumer Reports recommends looking for products certified by ConsumerLab.com, NSF International, or U.S. Pharmacopeia .
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Extraction And Preparation Of Collagen 1
Collagen 1 had been extracted from rat tail tendons as recently described . For experiments requiring coating with collagen, each well was coated by adding 0.5 mL of nonpepsinized collagen 1 solubilized in 0.018 M acetic acid at a concentration of 35 g/mL. Then, coated substrates were dried at room temperature under sterile conditions during one night. Therefore, wells were washed twice with PBS in order to eliminate completely acetic acid and the cells were plated in each well in the presence of complete MEM culture medium at a pH value of 7.20 7.40.
Fuelling Breast Cancer Recurrence
Collagen within a residual breast tumor. Image credit: Walens et al. 2019
Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Recurrence of breast-cancer five or more years after initial diagnosis and treatment causes more than half of these deaths. This suggests that some tumor cells survived treatment and persisted undetected. These residual tumor cells may not grow for years and are often surrounded by other cells, including immune system cells. What role these surrounding immune cells play in triggering future growth of these residual tumor cells is not clear.
Many breast cancer patients receive chemotherapy, which kills all quickly dividing cells. Targeted therapies, which block signals necessary for cancer cell growth, are also used often. More recently, scientists have developed treatments that use a patients own immune system to fight off cancer. Scientists are currently studying whether combining these immunotherapies with chemotherapy or targeted therapies increases the likelihood of eliminating cancer. Learning more about the role surrounding immune cells play in allowing residual tumor cells to persist and regrow is important to understanding how to treat cancer more successfully and prevent recurrence.
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Isolation And Expansion Of Circulating Breast Cancer Cells
The tdTomato-fluorescence was used to isolate and sort circulating tumor cells obtained from mice bearing orthotopic tdTomato-expressing MDA-MB-231 breast tumor xenografts. In brief, approximately 300 to 500l of blood was collected from the heart in a sterile Eppendorf tube. 10 to 20 units of heparin were added and mixed well to avoid blood clotting. The blood sample was then directly added to a cell culture flask containing standard cell culture medium. After two weeks in culture, tdTomato-expressing MDA-MB-231 CTCs were FACS sorted and further expanded.
Collagen 1 Promotes Basal Calcium Influx And Regulates Cell Survival Through A Calcium
We have already reported that extracellular Ca2+ regulates breast cancer cell survival and proliferation , we examined whether the variation of extracellular Ca2+ concentrations could affect the collagen-dependent survival. The cell viability was analysed after 48 h FCS-starvation. As expected, in 1.8 mM o collagen 1 decreased cell mortality in MCF-7 and T-47D cells . However, it failed to decrease the cell mortality in low Ca2+ conditions in both cell lines . Indeed, under low calcium conditions, collagen 1-induced cell mortality was increased compared to physiologic calcium conditions in both cell lines . Then, we investigated whether collagen 1 induced Ca2+ entry that we analysed through Mn2+ quenching of fura-2 fluorescence. Addition of Mn2+ decreased the fura-2 fluorescence in a time-dependent manner revealing a Mn2+ influx through plasma membrane Ca2+ channels . Our results showed an increased Mn2+ quenching by 5.7 and 11.5 folds in MCF-7 and 1.74 and 2.02 folds in T47-D cells cultured on collagen 1 for 24 h and 48 h post-starvation respectively . Altogether, our results showed that the collagen 1 promotes BC cell survival through a Ca2+-dependent pathway.
Collagen 1 promotes calcium influx and regulates cell survival by a calcium-dependent mechanism
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Physiological And Physicochemical Properties Of Collagen
Collagen is a type of right-handed helix glycoprotein that contains three homologous or nonhomologous left-handed helix chains. These chain amino acid sequences are characterized by glycineXY repeats with or without interruptions, with X and Y most likely being proline or hydroxyproline, and the hydroxyproline content of collagen contributes to its thermal stability .
Collagen is released into the extracellular matrix to form a fibril supramolecular assembly that may start in Golgi-to-membrane carriers after procollagen excision or be localized at the plasma membrane of fibroblasts. The stability of collagen assembly is influenced by intramolecular and intermolecular linkages, particularly covalent linkages, chiefly including lysyl oxidase crosslinks , glycosylation crosslinks , and transglutaminase crosslinks , which vary across collagen types.
Different collagens in the ECM are finally degraded by various matrix metalloproteinases belonging to the zinc-dependent endopeptidase family, by proline oxidase, or by sheddases that release the soluble ectodomain of membrane collagens .
Boosting Collagen Intake Is Essential For Cancer And Heart Disease Prevention Advise Researchers
07/09/2020 / By Divina Ramirez
Cancer is the second leading cause of death around the globe, according to the World Health Organization . In fact, about one in six deaths globally is due to some form of cancer.
But the thing is, an astounding 90 percent of cancer-related deaths arent because of complications caused by malignant tumors. Instead, they are due to cancer cells spreading to surrounding tissues. In most cases, this invasion of cancer cells, called metastasis, results in site-specific cancers that affect the bones, the breasts, the prostate, the colon and the brain.
According to recent studies, collagen, the protein responsible for giving bones, skin, tendons, ligaments and other tissues structural support, may be able to stall metastasis and reduce the risk of other chronic conditions, such as heart disease.
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What Triggers Breast Growth
Breast growth is a natural process that occurs in the breast tissue. It is not a disease. , and the following are some of the most common causes of breast cancer: -Breasts are not fully developed. This is called a pregnancy-induced breast tumor. The breast is still growing, but it is smaller than normal. In addition, the size of your breast may be smaller. If you have a pregnancy-related breast problem, you may have more breast tumors. -Breasted breasts are larger than average. They are usually larger in size than the average breast. These larger breasts may cause you to have larger breast size. You may also have breast enlargement. Breast enlargements are caused by a number of factors, including: -Your age. Your age is one of many factors that affect breast development. For example, older women have smaller breasts than younger women. Women who are older have bigger breasts. Some women who have had breast surgery have breasts that are smaller in diameter than those of women without breast implants. Other women may not have any breast changes at all. However, if you are a woman who has had a breast reduction surgery, your breasts will be larger. Also, some women with breast problems may experience breast pain. A breast surgeon may recommend that you undergo a mammogram to check for breast abnormalities.
What causes breast cancers?