The extracellular matrix: a new dimension in disease diagnosis and treatment

The extracellular matrix (ECM) forms the complex and dynamic 3D environment that defines tissue structure and function. Matrix molecules provide much of the microenvironmental plasticity that dictates cell behaviour, and their dysregulated expression is associated with a wide range of diseases including cancers, and inflammatory and fibrotic conditions. Here, we describe how these matrix molecules are beginning to be used for disease diagnosis and treatment.