Tumor matrix protein collagen XIα1 in cancer

The extracellular matrix is increasingly recognized as an essential player in cancer development and progression. Collagens are one of the most important components of the extracellular matrix, and have themselves been implicated in many aspects of neoplastic transformation. Collagen XI is a minor collagen whose main physiologic function is to regulate the diameter of major collagen fibrils. The alpha 1 chain of collagen XI (colXI alpha 1) has known pathogenic roles in several musculoskeletal disorders. Recent research has highlighted the importance of colXI alpha 1 in many types of cancer, including its roles in metastasis, angiogenesis, and drug resistance, as well as its potential utility in screening tests and as a therapeutic target. High levels of colXI alpha 1 overexpression have been reported in multiple expression profile studies examining differences between cancerous and normal tissue, and between beginning and advanced stage cancer. Its expression has been linked to poor progression-free and overall survival. The consistency of these data across cancer types is particularly striking, including colorectal, ovarian, breast, head and neck, lung, and brain cancers. This review discusses the role of collagen XI alpha 1 in cancer and its potential as a target for cancer therapy. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.