Host Matrix Modulation by Tumor Exosomal CD44v6 and Proteases Promotes Motility and Invasiveness

Tumor exosomes (TEX) severely influence hematopoiesis and premetastatic organ cells. With the extracellular matrix (ECM) being an essential constituent of non-transformed tissues and tumors, we asked whether exosomes from a metastatic rat tumor also affect the organization of the ECM. Matrix degradation by TEX has severe consequences on host cell adhesion, motility, and invasiveness. Taken together, ECM modulation is an important factor in the cross talk between a tumor and the host cells.