The Function of Tenascin-C in the Tumor Stroma

n this chapter we discuss functional data that reveal what the purpose of tenascin-C in tumors may be by focusing on studies that have examined what this extracellular matrix glycoprotein is doing in the tumor stroma as well as at sites of metastatic colonization. Tenascin-C is an extraordinarily pleiotrophic molecule. This functional plasticity is made possible by the multimodular structure of the molecule. Each domain of tenascin-C interacts with a number of specific matrix molecules and cell surface receptors (Table 3, Figure 1B). In this way, tenascin-C can influence tissue structure, modulate signals derived from other extracellular components, and signal directly to cells to affect cell phenotype.