The Biological and Biomechanical Role of Transglutaminase-2 in the Tumour Microenvironment

Transglutaminase-2 (TG2) is the most highly and ubiquitously expressed member of transglutaminase enzyme family primarily involved in protein cross-linking. TG2 has been implicated development progression numerous cancers, with a direct role multiple cellular processes pathways linked to apoptosis, chemoresistance, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, stem cell phenotype. The tumour microenvironment (TME) critical formation, progression, eventual metastasis cancer, increasing evidence points for matrix remodelling, modulation biomechanical properties, adhesion, motility, invasion. There growing interest targeting TME therapeutically response advances understanding its disease number approaches biophysical properties signalling are beginning show clinical promise. In this review we aim highlight wide array which influences TME, focussing on potential dynamic tissue remodelling events increasingly invasive aggressive behaviour. Drug efforts have yielded range inhibitors, ongoing trials may inform strategies biomolecular function TME.