Fig. 2

The ECM components implicated in cancer progression and metastasis. Cancer cells are directly exposed to the tumor microenvironment that contains adipocytes when cancer cells break through the basement membrane. Further, adipocytes that surrounded the tumor cells change into CAAs, being characterized by a reduced volume, a gain of an irregular shape with dispersed and small lipid droplets. An important role of these components is involved in sustaining cellular progression and metastasis of cancer cells. Abbreviations: ECM, extracellular matrix, CAAs, cancer-associated adipocytes