Extracellular matrix protein-1 secretory isoform promotes ovarian cancer through increasing alternative mRNA splicing and stemness

Abstract

Extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) has been associated with cancer but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not clear. Here, the authors show that while ECM1b isoform is a tumour suppressor, the secreted isoform ECM1a promotes tumourigenesis and chemoresistance through increasing stemness and alternative mRNA splicing in ovarian cancer.