The invasion of surrounding tissues by cancer cells is a multi-step process. Initially, cancer cells must acquire the ability to degrade the extracellular matrix (ECM) that surrounds them. This is accomplished through the secretion of enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that break down ECM components. Following ECM degradation, cancer cells undergo changes in their cytoskeleton and cell adhesion properties, allowing them to move through the tissue—a process known as cell migration.
