Cancer cells transfer invasive properties through microRNAs contained in collagen tracks
Abstract
Invasion is a prerequisite for metastasis formation. During tumor development, type I collagen overexpression increases tumor microenvironment stiffness, facilitating cancer cell dissemination. During breast cancer cell migration in 2D and 3D matrices, we observed membrane debris left behind, attached to the collagen fibrils, along the migration path. We named these structures collagen -tracks. Their formation is stimulated by the interaction between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and matrix receptors, such as discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1). They present a specific nucleic acid and protein contents. When deposited by highly invasive breast cancer cells, internalized collagen tracks reprogram non-invasive cells into highly pro-metastatic ones, increasing their ECM degradation and invasive capacities. This cell reprogramming is dependent on specific microRNAs (miRNAs) identified in the collagen tracks. Collagen tracks thus represent a form of cell-cell communication important for driving tumor invasion that could be targeted to prevent metastasis.
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BibTeX
@article{rouyer2026cancer,
title = {{Cancer cells transfer invasive properties through microRNAs contained in collagen tracks}},
author = {Lucile Rouyer and Léa Normand and Elodie Richard and Nathalie Allain-Courtois and Julie Giraud and Sylvaine Di-Tommaso and Cyril Dourthe and Anne-Aurélie Raymond and Jean-William Dupuy and Kevin Moreau and Richard Iggo and Gaetan Macgrogan and Nathalie Dugot-Senant and Anthony Bouter and Sisareuth Tan and Alexandre Favereaux and Violaine Moreau and Reini Luco and Manon Ros and Frédéric Saltel},
journal = {Cell Reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116725},
url = {https://cnrs.hal.science/hal-05663479v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Cancer cells transfer invasive properties through microRNAs contained in collagen tracks
AU - Lucile Rouyer
AU - Léa Normand
AU - Elodie Richard
AU - Nathalie Allain-Courtois
AU - Julie Giraud
AU - Sylvaine Di-Tommaso
AU - Cyril Dourthe
AU - Anne-Aurélie Raymond
AU - Jean-William Dupuy
AU - Kevin Moreau
AU - Richard Iggo
AU - Gaetan Macgrogan
AU - Nathalie Dugot-Senant
AU - Anthony Bouter
AU - Sisareuth Tan
AU - Alexandre Favereaux
AU - Violaine Moreau
AU - Reini Luco
AU - Manon Ros
AU - Frédéric Saltel
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/02
JO - Cell Reports
DO - 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116725
UR - https://cnrs.hal.science/hal-05663479v1
AB - Invasion is a prerequisite for metastasis formation. During tumor development, type I collagen overexpression increases tumor microenvironment stiffness, facilitating cancer cell dissemination. During breast cancer cell migration in 2D and 3D matrices, we observed membrane debris left behind, attached to the collagen fibrils, along the migration path. We named these structures collagen -tracks. Their formation is stimulated by the interaction between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and matrix receptors, such as discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1). They present a specific nucleic acid and protein contents. When deposited by highly invasive breast cancer cells, internalized collagen tracks reprogram non-invasive cells into highly pro-metastatic ones, increasing their ECM degradation and invasive capacities. This cell reprogramming is dependent on specific microRNAs (miRNAs) identified in the collagen tracks. Collagen tracks thus represent a form of cell-cell communication important for driving tumor invasion that could be targeted to prevent metastasis.
SN - 2211-1247
SN - 2211-1247
ER -