What Role do the Basement Membrane and Extracellular Matrix Play?
The basement membrane and extracellular matrix (ECM) act as barriers to cell movement. Invasive cells produce enzymes like MMPs that degrade these structures, facilitating their migration. The integrity of the basement membrane is a critical factor in diagnosing the stage of cancer; for instance, carcinoma in situ is confined above the basement membrane, while invasive carcinoma has breached it.
