The key role of matrix stiffness in colorectal cancer immunotherapy: mechanisms and therapeutic strategies

Abstract

Increased matrix stiffness within the colorectal cancer (CRC) tumor microenvironment (TME) has emerged as a pivotal determinant of immunotherapy outcomes. This review discusses the role of aberrant extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and cross-linking in augmenting matrix stiffness, a phenomenon that not only scaffolds the tumor architecture but also contributes to tumorigenicity and immunologic evasion. Herein, we critically appraise the influence of matrix stiffness on the immunotherapeutic landscape of CRC, focusing on its capacity to impede therapeutic efficacy by modulating immune cell infiltration, activation, and functional performance. The review explores the molecular dynamics whereby matrix stiffness prompts tumor evolution, highlighting the integral role of integrin signaling, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We bring to the fore the paradoxical impact of an indurated ECM on immune effector cells, chiefly T cells and macrophages, which are indispensable for immune surveillance and the execution of immunotherapeutic strategies, yet are markedly restrained by a fibrotic matrix. Furthermore, we examine how matrix stiffness modulates immune checkpoint molecule expression, thereby exacerbating the immunosuppressive milieu within the TME and attenuating immunotherapeutic potency. Emergent therapeutic regimens targeting matrix stiffness—including matrix modulators, inhibitors of mechanotransduction signaling pathways, and advanced biomaterials that mimic the ECM—proffer novel modalities to potentiate immunotherapy responsiveness. By refining the ECM's biomechanical attributes, the mechanical barriers posed by the tumor stroma can be improved, facilitating robust immune cell penetration and activity, and thereby bolstering the tumor's susceptibility to immunotherapy. Ongoing clinical trials are evaluating these innovative treatments, particularly in combination with immunotherapies, with the aim of enhancing clinical outcomes for CRC patients afflicted by pronounced matrix stiffness.