Call for papers - Extracellular matrix remodeling in cancer

Guest Editors

Oscar Maiques Carlos, MSc, PhD, Queen Mary’s University of London, UK
Weikun Xiao, PhD, Appia Bio Inc., USA

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 17 December 2025

BMC Cancer is calling for submissions to our Collection on "Extracellular matrix remodeling in cancer." This Collection invites researchers to contribute their findings on the intricate relationships between extracellular matrix (ECM) dynamics and cancer biology. We seek to showcase studies that explore the roles of specific ECM components, the interactions with the immune system, and innovative therapeutic strategies targeting ECM remodeling. By fostering a deeper understanding of these processes, this Collection aims to inform the development of novel cancer therapies and enhance patient care.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Oscar Maiques Carlos, MSc, PhD, Queen Mary’s University of London, UK

Dr Oscar Maiques Carlos holds a BSc in Biotechnology (2011) and an MSc (2013) and PhD (2017) from the University of Lleida. His research journey in molecular pathology began with Prof Xavier Matias-Guiu, focusing on molecular signatures in gynaecological malignancies. For his PhD, co-supervised by Prof Matias-Guiu and Prof Rosa M. Marti, he explored T-type calcium channels in melanoma progression, linking them to autophagy and repurposed treatments. As a postdoc with Prof Victoria Sanz-Moreno at Barts Cancer Institute (2018–2023), he investigated tumour plasticity, metastasis, and how extracellular matrix topography imparts “mechanical memory.” His work emphasizes multidisciplinary collaboration, advanced imaging, and digital pathology.

Weikun Xiao, PhD, Appia Bio Inc., USA

Dr Weikun Xiao earned his PhD in Bioengineering from the University of California, Los Angeles. His doctoral research focused on developing a novel 3D brain-mimetic hydrogel culture system to investigate glioblastoma drug resistance. During his postdoctoral training at the University of Southern California, he established a hydrogel-based organoid co-culture model to study pancreatic cancer–fibroblast interactions, shedding light on mechanisms of tumor chemo-resistance conferred by exosomes secreted by cancer associated fibroblast. He later transitioned to the biopharmaceutical industry, joining an allogeneic cell therapy company, where he contributes to the development of next-generation allogeneic CAR-T therapies for the treatment of various cancers.

About the Collection

The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a pivotal role in the tumor microenvironment, influencing cancer progression, metastasis, and treatment response. Composed of various proteins and carbohydrates, the ECM provides structural support and biochemical signals that regulate cellular behavior. In cancer, ECM remodeling occurs through a complex interplay of tumor cells, stromal cells, and the surrounding microenvironment, leading to alterations that can facilitate tumor growth and metastasis. Understanding these dynamic changes is essential for unraveling the multifaceted nature of cancer biology and identifying potential therapeutic targets.

Research in the field of ECM remodeling has advanced significantly in recent years, uncovering insights into how alterations in ECM composition and organization can influence tumor cell behavior and their interactions with the immune system. It has become increasingly clear that changes in the ECM not only provide structural support to tumors but also actively participate in regulating cellular functions such as migration, proliferation, and metastasis. Key discoveries have underscored the importance of specific ECM components, including collagen, fibronectin, and hyaluronan, which are crucial in shaping the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, the enzymes responsible for ECM degradation, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and those involved in ECM synthesis, like fibroblasts and other stromal cells, have been identified as essential players in facilitating tumor progression.

These findings have prompted the exploration of novel therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating ECM remodeling to disrupt tumor growth and metastasis. Notably, the development of ECM-targeting agents, such as inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases and other ECM-modulating compounds, is showing promise in enhancing the effectiveness of traditional cancer treatments, improving patient outcomes, and possibly overcoming therapeutic resistance. As the field continues to evolve, the manipulation of ECM dynamics offers a promising avenue for improving cancer therapy and potentially providing new tools to fight cancer more effectively.

With this in mind, BMC Cancer is opening this Collection on “Extracellular matrix remodeling in cancer.” Topics of interest include:

Role of specific ECM components in cancer progression
ECM remodeling and immune system interactions
Therapeutic targeting of ECM remodeling in cancer treatment
Biomarkers derived from ECM alterations

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Extracellular matrix remodeling in cancer" from the dropdown menu.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.