Collagen is the most important structural
protein and also the main component of the extra-cellular matrix (ECM). It plays a role in
tumor progression.
Collagen can be regulated by altering its biosynthesis pathway through various signaling pathways, receptors, and genes. The activity of
cancer cells can also be regulated by other ECM components like
metalloproteinases,
hyaluronic acid,
fibronectin, and so on.
Hypoxia is also one of the conditions that lead to
cancer progression by stimulating the expression of
procollagen lysine as a
collagen crosslinker, which increases the size of
collagen fibres promoting
cancer spread. The
collagen content in cancerous cells leads to resistance to
chemotherapy. So, to reduce this resistance, some
collagen-regulating
therapies are introduced, including inhibiting its biosynthesis, disturbing
cancer cell signaling pathway, mediating ECM components, and directly utilizing
collagenase. This study is an effort to compile the strategies reported to control the
collagen level and different
collagen inhibitors reported so far. More research is needed in this area. Growing understanding of
collagen's structural features and its role in
cancer progression will aid in the advancement of newer
chemotherapies.